Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Sunday threw his hat in the ring for the by-election to the Bankipur assembly seat in Bihar, terming it a “referendum” on the popularity of the BJP-led government in the state.

Kishor announced his decision to contest the seat, which has fallen vacant upon the resignation of BJP president Nitin Nabin, who is now a Rajya Sabha MP. “The people of Bankipur are the richest and the most educated in Bihar. Let them vote for the best,” Kishor said.