By Kavita Sharma
Photo Credit: The Suncity News
Patna, August 3, 2026: Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor has registered his first electoral victory of his political career, defeating BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha in the Bankipur Assembly by-election.
According to the Election Commission, after 31 rounds of counting, Kishor secured 63,203 votes, while Neeraj Kumar polled 44,250 votes.
RJD candidate Rekha Kumari finished third with 14,085 votes.
Prashant Kishor defeated his BJP rival by 18,953 votes, marking a significant political breakthrough in Bihar. The victory is particularly notable because Bankipur has traditionally been considered a strong BJP bastion.
Samrat Choudhary congratulates Prashant Kishor:
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary congratulated Prashant Kishor on his victory and said the BJP respects the people’s mandate.
In a post on X, Choudhary said that the people of Bankipur had chosen Jan Suraaj in the great festival of democracy and extended his congratulations to Prashant Kishor on his victory.
The congratulatory message comes despite Kishor’s sharp criticism of the state government during and after the counting process.
Following his victory, Kishor launched a strong attack on the BJP-led government in Bihar, saying the Bankipur result was not merely a vote for an individual candidate but a message from the electorate regarding the government’s performance.
Prashant Kishor claimed that the result represented a rejection of the work of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
“This is a vote against Samrat Choudhary’s work. Merely distributing four or five kilograms of food grains will not solve people’s problems. The people of Bihar need employment, quality education, healthcare and development.”
He also raised concerns over law and order and argued that Bihar requires a government focused on honest administration, development and good governance.
Raises issue of equitable development:
Kishor also targeted the policies of the central government, arguing that development opportunities and resources should be distributed more equitably across the country.
He said Bihar should receive the same opportunities and facilities as other states and questioned what he described as unequal access to development.
According to Kishor, the Bankipur result demonstrates that voters are seeking political change and could represent a new message in Bihar politics.
The Bankipur victory gives Prashant Kishor a significant electoral foothold after entering electoral politics.
His defeat of the BJP in a constituency regarded as one of its traditional strongholds is likely to intensify political debate in Bihar.
For the BJP, the result represents a setback that could prompt introspection, while for Jan Suraaj, Kishor’s victory provides a major boost to the party’s claim of emerging as a new political force in the state.
Also Read: Prashant Kishor welcomes the 2-phase election decision of the poll body, claimed Jan Suraj victory.
EOM.
