Prashant Kishor set to end BJP's 35-year stronghold in Bankipur bypoll

Prashant Kishor is leading in the Bankipur Assembly by-election as counting trends point to a Jan Suraaj breakthrough. If confirmed, the result will end the BJP's long hold on the seat and sharpen Bihar's political contest.Prashant Kishor began campaigning in Bankipur nearly two months before the BJP and the RJD launched their full-fledged campaigns. (Photo: PTI)Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor is on course to win the Bankipur Assembly by-election, according to the latest counting trends. If the lead holds till the final declaration of results, it will bring an end to the BJP's nearly 35-year dominance in one of its strongest Assembly constituencies in Bihar.The bypoll is being viewed as a significant political contest, with Bankipur remaining a BJP bastion for more than three decades. A victory for Prashant Kishor would not only mark Jan Suraaj's biggest electoral success so far but also reshape the political narrative ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.The outcome is likely to be a major setback for the BJP, which was forced to change its candidate before eventually fielding Neeraj Kumar Sinha. Compared with Prashant Kishor, Sinha entered the contest as a relatively low-profile face, while the Jan Suraaj chief remained the focal point of the campaign throughout the election.Prashant Kishor began campaigning in Bankipur nearly two months before the BJP and the RJD launched their full-fledged campaigns. During this period, he held public meetings, conducted door-to-door outreach and strengthened booth-level organisation across the constituency. The early start gave Jan Suraaj a head start in building its electoral machinery before its rivals intensified their campaigns. The BJP treated the bypoll as a prestige battle, deploying around 40 star campaigners and thousands of party workers to retain the seat. Several senior BJP leaders campaigned extensively in the constituency during the final phase of the election.The result could also be a significant political setback for BJP national president Nitin Nabin, whose political career has been closely associated with Bankipur. Nabin represented the constituency in the Bihar Assembly for five consecutive terms before being elevated to the party's national leadership and later entering the Rajya Sabha. Although Nitin Nabin was not the BJP's candidate in the bypoll, he played an active role in the campaign. He remained in Bankipur during the final days of campaigning, led roadshows and public meetings, and coordinated with party leaders and workers in an effort to retain the seat. A defeat would end the BJP's long winning streak in a constituency that has long been identified with Nabin's political journey.During the campaign, Prashant Kishor repeatedly described the Bankipur bypoll as a "referendum on the Samrat Choudhary government". If the current trends translate into a victory, the result is likely to reinforce that political message.The Jan Suraaj chief also focused on attracting young voters by highlighting issues such as employment, education and governance, while seeking to connect with first-time and Gen Z voters through an extensive grassroots campaign.The bypoll was necessitated following the Bhojpur encounter in which Bharat Tiwari was killed. The incident remained a key political issue throughout the campaign, with Prashant Kishor repeatedly raising it during public meetings.The result could also have wider implications for Bihar's opposition politics. If Prashant Kishor secures victory while the RJD trails behind, Jan Suraaj could significantly strengthen its position as an emerging political force in the state. The win would also pave the way for Prashant Kishor's entry into the Bihar Assembly, giving him a legislative platform to raise issues directly inside the House.If the current trends are confirmed, the Bankipur by-election will be remembered as the contest that ended the BJP's 35-year hold over the constituency and delivered Jan Suraaj its biggest electoral breakthrough in Bihar.- EndsPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Aug 3, 2026 16:22 IST