In a setback to Jan Suraaj party founder Prashant Kishor ahead of the Bankipur assembly bypoll, several leaders, including candidates who contested last year’s Bihar assembly elections on the party’s ticket, joined the BJP on Wednesday.

Those inducted into the BJP by the party’s state president Sanjay Saraogi included renowned mathematician KC Sinha and Ritesh Ranjan alias Bittu Singh, who had contested as Jan Suraaj candidates from the adjoining Kumhrar and Digha seats, respectively.