Bankipur bypoll: Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj gears up for challenge in BJP stronghold
Bankipur, located in heart of Patna, has remained a BJP stronghold for nearly four decades and is considered one of the party's safest constituencies
Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor has announced that his party Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) will aggressively contest the upcoming Bankipur Assembly bypoll in Patna, setting the stage for a high-profile political contest in one of the BJP's strongest bastions in Bihar.
The seat fell vacant after BJP leader Nitin Nabin was elevated as the party's national president. Bankipur, located in the heart of Patna, has remained a BJP stronghold for nearly four decades and is considered one of the party's safest constituencies.
Crucial political test
Following Nabin's move to the Rajya Sabha, the 2026 bypoll is being viewed as a crucial political test for both the ruling NDA and the opposition. Jan Suraaj has declared that it will contest the seat with full force, with Kishor describing the election as a referendum on the promises made by the BJP-JD(U) government that took office after the 2025 Assembly elections.
Also read: Nitin Nabin’s elevation as BJP’s national president a calculated move by Modi-Shah
He argued voters should use the bypoll to assess whether commitments related to employment, education, migration and financial assistance have translated into results.
JSP expresses confidence
Kishor also expressed confidence that Jan Suraaj is better placed than traditional Opposition parties to challenge the BJP in Bankipur. He noted that both the RJD and Congress have repeatedly failed to make significant gains in the constituency despite contesting it for years.
The Jan Suraaj founder also commented on the recurring issue of examination paper leaks, saying the problem reflects deeper structural flaws in the education system rather than isolated incidents.
According to him, such controversies will continue unless broader reforms are undertaken.
BJP candidate
The BJP, meanwhile, is expected to pull out all stops to retain the prestigious seat. Political circles are abuzz with speculation that recently inducted BJP leader Ritu Jaiswal could be considered as a potential candidate as the party seeks to preserve its uninterrupted winning streak in Bankipur.
Also read: Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj moves SC challenging Bihar elections, seeks fresh polls
Nitin Nabin first entered the Bihar Assembly through a by-election in 2006 after the death of his father and has successfully retained the constituency ever since.
In the 2025 Bihar Assembly election, he secured a decisive victory with more than 62 per cent of the vote, defeating his nearest rival by a margin of nearly 52,000 votes.
Who will be JSP’s candidate?
For Jan Suraaj, the contest carries added significance. In its electoral debut in the 2025 Assembly elections, the party contested 238 of Bihar's 243 seats but failed to win a single constituency, despite securing an overall vote share of more than three per cent. Its candidate in Bankipur, first-time contestant Vandana Kumari, finished a distant third.
Notably, Prasant Kishor did not commit to contesting the election, saying the decision would be made by the party leadership. Similar speculation had surrounded him ahead of the 2025 elections, but he ultimately chose not to enter the fray.
Also read: Prashant Kishor moves to ashram, says he'll live there till next Bihar polls