Prashant Kishor To Fight Bankipur Bypoll: Jan Suraaj Leader's First Big Electoral Test Sparks High-Stakes Battle In Bihar
_459402262.jpg)
In a major political development, the Jan Suraaj Party has officially announced its founder, Prashant Kishor, as its candidate for the upcoming Bankipur Assembly by-election in Bihar. The crucial announcement was made by the party's Bihar unit president, Manoj Bharti, following a high-level meeting of the party's core committee. This election marks a defining moment for Kishor, his first major personal electoral contest since the Jan Suraaj Party failed to secure any seats in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
Tej Pratap Yadav Fields Social Activist Veena Manvi
Adding intensity to the contest, Janshakti Janata Dal president Tej Pratap Yadav has announced Patna-based social activist Veena Manvi as his party's candidate for the Bankipur bypoll. Yadav, a former Bihar minister who was expelled from the RJD by party chief Lalu Prasad last year, expressed strong confidence that his newly formed political outfit would give a tough fight to the ruling NDA. Emphasising Manvi's grassroots connection, Yadav highlighted that she represents both women and the Vaishya community—a demographic that the BJP has traditionally wooed.
BJP Stronghold Awaits Candidate Announcement
The high-profile Bankipur Assembly seat fell vacant after veteran BJP leader and national president Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha. While the BJP has yet to name its candidate for this traditional stronghold officially, internal party discussions indicate that leaders such as Ajay Alok, Neel Ratan Ghosh, and Ajeet Kumar Lali are under active consideration. Notably, in the 2025 Assembly elections, Nitin Nabin retained the Bankipur seat for a fifth consecutive term, defeating his closest RJD rival by nearly 50,000 votes.
Official Bankipur Bypoll Schedule And Voting Dates
The Election Commission has released the comprehensive poll schedule for the upcoming by-elections. The official notification will be issued on July 6, kicking off the nomination process. Candidates have until July 13 to file their nominations, with the scrutiny of papers scheduled for July 14. The final date for the withdrawal of candidature is July 16. Voting for the assembly by-elections across Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat will take place on July 30. The counting of votes is scheduled for August 3, and the entire electoral process will wrap up by August 4. The Election Commission confirmed that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines will be used across all polling stations to ensure a smooth and transparent election.
