Prashant Kishor’S Jan Suraaj Sees An Opening With Bypoll In Bankipur Seat Vacated By BJP’S Nabin

Kishor's Jan Suraaj Eyes Bankipur Bypoll Opportunity

The Election Commission has yet to reveal the timeline for the upcoming bypoll in Bankipur, a seat recently vacated by BJP's Nabin Nabin. Uday Singh, a key figure in Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), emphasized their resolve to contest strongly in the region. “We have decided that Bankipur majbooti se ladenge. I have been saying this from day one that wherever Prashant Kishor fights from, obviously he’s the strongest candidate we have,” Singh stated, highlighting the party's commitment to fielding their best candidate in what is traditionally a BJP stronghold.

Prashant Kishor founded the Jan Suraaj Party on October 2, 2024, following an extensive two-year campaign known as the Jan Suraaj Padyatra. This initiative, which spanned thousands of villages across Bihar, marked his transition from political consulting in 2021. In the previous assembly elections, JSP put forward candidates in 238 of the 243 seats but did not secure any wins, managing only a 3.4 percent vote share.

The Bankipur constituency has historical significance, as it has been consistently won by the BJP. Nabin secured the seat last year by defeating RJD's Rekha Kumari with a margin exceeding 51,000 votes. His family has a strong legacy in the area, with Nabin first winning in a by-election in 2006 after the passing of his father, Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha. Singh noted that Kishor is seen as the party's leading candidate, with many members advocating for him to run in the bypoll. “Bankipur is the top priority issue for the party right now,” Singh remarked, promising a decision on the JSP candidate would come soon.

Singh also acknowledged the enthusiasm among party supporters about Kishor's potential candidacy. “Naturally, whenever this issue comes up for discussion during our meetings the first reaction of party workers and supporters is that ‘PK ladenge toh sabse achchha hoga’ (PK fighting would be the best thing),” he explained. However, he stressed that any final decision must consider the local dynamics of the constituency.

Following a disappointing performance in 2025, the JSP disbanded all its organizational units, indicating a significant shift in strategy. Last November, Kishor addressed his decision not to contest the previous elections, drawing parallels with Imran Khan's political journey in Pakistan. He stated, “Imran Khan started his party in Pakistan 25 years ago, contested from seven seats and lost all—so contesting elections is subjective.” Kishor has consistently asserted that his party's ambition is either to achieve a substantial victory or to remain entirely out of contention.