Bankipur verdict ‘wake-up call' for Modi, says Prashant Kishor after win in BJP fortress

The BJP, left red-faced by the embarrassing defeat not just in Bankipur, but also in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia, has said it will thoroughly introspect on the election results. The Opposition, on the other hand, has called the results “the beginning of the end” of the saffron party, and a reflection of people’s discontent over issues including the recent students’ protest on paper leaks, Ram temple donation theft and the E20 petrol rollout.

People voted against ‘criminal’ CM: Kishor

Kishor, also the founder of IPAC, has claimed that the vote was “essentially against" Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. Stating that he doesn’t have any personal issues with Choudhary, but the chief minister “is detested by educated people of Bihar because of criminal antecedents and lack of qualifications”.

Also read: Why did BJP lose Bankipur and Datia bypolls? What analysts say

Speaking to reporters after his win, Kishor said the electoral verdict in Bankipur is a wake-up call for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that if Choudhary was chosen because he belongs to the numerically significant Kushwaha community, let him be replaced with someone with the same caste but with a "cleaner background".

Kishor won his maiden election after defeating the BJP’s Neeraj Kumar by over 19,000 votes. His Jan Suraaj party had failed to open an account in the 2025 Assembly polls in Bihar. The Bankipur seat was held by the BJP for over three decades since 1995 and fell vacant after Nitin Nabin resigned as MLA to take up the role of the party’s national president and was elected to the Rajya Sabha.

‘No alliance, tall promises’

Kishor also clarified that his party will not enter an alliance with any other outfit.

“We shall have no alliance. Our alliance shall be with the people of Bihar. You should see that the people of Bankipur have voted for us, giving up on established parties,” said Kishor. He said he would not make tall promises like converting Bankipur into Bengaluru, but as an MLA, he would try to improve things, and changes will be there for all to see in a few months.

A senior BJP leader told PTI that Kishor struck the right notes and tapped into the growing dissatisfaction among the upper castes by raising issues like the death after suspected rape of a NEET aspirant and the police encounter of Bharat Tiwari. The BJP leader also attributed Kishor’s win to the recent Gen Z protest, which might have weakened the saffron party’s base among the youth.

Also read: Beyond the bypoll results: Why Bankipur and Datia setbacks should worry BJP

"The Gen Z protests highlighted our weakening support among the youth, especially the upper castes, who have been our core base. They had been unhappy over the controversial UGC regulations and, now, they have begun to feel that we are taking them for granted,” he said.

Kishor’s win, BJP’s defeat: Opposition

The Opposition has hailed Kishor’s victory as “the defeat of the BJP”.

“It is an emphatic victory against the BJP. In the backdrop of Jantar Mantar protests, it does indicate a welcome shift in public mood,” said Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretary of CPI(ML) Liberation.

Congress spokesperson Suman Kumar Mallick said the people of Bankipur have given a clear message against the arrogance of power and an autocracy.

RJD spokesperson Chitaranjan Gagan, whose party’s candidate Rekha Gupta finished third in the by-poll, said more important than who won is the fact that the BJP lost.

Beginning of the end of BJP rule: Congress

Congress leaders called the results the "beginning of the end of the BJP rule".

Congress leader Pawan Khera said it was a moral defeat for the BJP.

Former Delhi chief minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal said the people want change.

Also read: Bankipur bypoll showdown: Why Nitin Nabin's home turf is turning into BJP's biggest test

"The BJP has lost even the seat of its national president. Prashant Kishor has won from Bankipur with a huge margin. Heartiest congratulations to him. The BJP's ground has completely slipped away. 'Chanda chori' (Donation theft), paper leaks, E20...There is deep dissatisfaction among the people towards the Modi government. Arrogance is breaking down. The people of the country have given a signal of change," Kejriwal said in a post on X.

Trinamool Congress too attacked the BJP, claiming that its “bad time has started" and dubbed the bypoll trend as the "beginning of the end" for the ruling party.

Will conduct thorough introspection: BJP

Accepting the people’s mandate in the three Assembly polls, the only saving grace being the BJP’s win in Gujarat’s Manjalpur Assembly seat, party national president Nabin said the party will conduct a "thorough introspection" of the election results in Bankipur and Datia seats and work tirelessly to further strengthen its trust with renewed energy.

Also read: Nitin Nabin elected BJP president unopposed; youngest ever

In Gujarat, the BJP retained the Manjalpur Assembly seat in Vadodara district, with its candidate Satish Govindbhai Patel defeating his Congress challenger and former minister Bhikhabhai Rabari by 30,630 votes.

“We accept the mandate received in today's three assembly by-elections," Nabin said in a post on X. "In 8/4/2026 12:55:43 AM. We will conduct a thorough introspection of the election results in both these areas with complete seriousness, and with renewed energy and determination, we will continue to go among the people and work tirelessly to further strengthen their trust."

(With inputs from agencies)