Bihar's Bankipur Assembly By-election Sparks Conflicting Victory Claims

Bihar minister Lakhendra Passwan of the BJP said the Bankipur constituency has been a traditional NDA stronghold for three decades and expressed confidence of winning the upcoming by‑poll, citing the party’s previous 51,000‑vote margin. He suggested that opposition figure Prashant Kishor would not be able to contest effectively, noting past bail seizures related to Kishor.

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Shakti Yadav also asserted that his party is poised to win the Bankipur by‑election, claiming the BJP’s dominance is weakening and that the RJD candidate will secure the seat. Both leaders framed the contest as a test of their parties ahead of broader national issues such as inflation, unemployment and security.