Bankipur by-election in Bihar pits BJP against Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj

The Bankipur Assembly by‑election in Patna, Bihar, was called after incumbent MLA Nitin Nabin resigned to become a Rajya Sabha member and BJP national president. The BJP has nominated Neeraj Kumar Sinha, while the Jan Suraaj Party has fielded its founder Prashant Kishor. Both sides are treating the contest as a test of organisational strength. BJP leaders highlighted a deep grassroots network, deploying ministers, senior party figures and over 40 star campaigners to rally voters, and the party claims strong booth‑level support. Kishor, a former election strategist for top national leaders, is running on a merit‑based platform and has drawn praise from regional celebrity Khesari Lal Yadav, who said he admires Kishor’s vision but is not endorsing any party. Campaign rallies have intensified across the constituency, with BJP ministers touring every street and Kishor accusing the ruling party of trying to suppress his candidacy. The poll is scheduled for 30 July, with results expected on 3 August, making it one of Bihar’s most closely watched contests.