Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor is leading by 1,145 votes in the Bankipur by-election against the BJP candidate after four rounds of counting. This high-stakes poll tests the BJP's dominance in a seat held since 1995, following a low voter turnout of 34 per cent on July 30.
The political landscape in Bihar is witnessing a significant test as Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor makes his electoral debut in the Bankipur constituency. After four rounds of vote counting, Kishor has secured an early lead of 1,145 votes, gathering 6,269 votes compared to the 5,124 votes for the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha. The Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate Rekha Gupta is currently trailing in third position with 884 votes.
The Bankipur seat, previously known as Patna West, has been a consistent stronghold for the BJP for over three decades. The seat became vacant after the resignation of BJP leader Nitin Nabin following his election to the Rajya Sabha in April. The current by-election, which includes 26 candidates, is being conducted across 31 rounds of counting at Patna’s AN College under strict security measures.
A key factor surrounding this contest is the participation level of the electorate. The by-election held on July 30 recorded a voter turnout of approximately 34 per cent, which is a decline from the 41.45 per cent turnout seen during the 2025 Assembly elections. Lower voter interest is often a point of interest for analysts assessing the intensity of political campaigns.
Ahead of the counting process, the election atmosphere saw tension when Prashant Kishor raised formal complaints regarding the conduct of the local administration. In a press conference held late Sunday night, Kishor alleged that his campaign workers were subjected to illegal detention and that there had been attempts to intimidate voters. He provided documentation from the Patna Senior Superintendent of Police regarding the detention of individuals and stated that his party would approach the Election Commission and the Supreme Court to address these reported irregularities.
For observers tracking the outcome, the final result will depend on the remaining 27 rounds of counting. The shift in this seat, if it occurs, would be a major development given the BJP’s long-standing hold on the constituency since 1995.