By Kavita Sharma
Photo Credit: The Suncity News
Patna, July 17, 2026: Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor formally entered the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Monday, taking the oath of office as the newly elected MLA from Bankipur.
Assembly Speaker Dr Prem Kumar administered the oath to Kishor in his chamber. He arrived at the assembly around 10:30 am, greeted people gathered outside, and then proceeded to the Speaker’s chamber with Jan Suraaj, state president Manoj Bharti, and other party leaders.
Kishor’s oath marks the formal beginning of his legislative career following his victory in the Bankipur by-election, where he defeated the BJP in a constituency that had remained its stronghold for nearly three decades.
Prashant Kishor defeats BJP by over 19,000 votes:
According to the figures provided, Kishor secured 64,117 votes, or 49.23% of the total votes polled.
BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha received 44,794 votes, securing 34.4% of the vote. RJD’s Rekha Gupta finished third with 14,263 votes, or 10.95%.
Kishor defeated the BJP candidate by 19,246 votes.
The results were considered politically significant because the BJP had maintained a strong presence in Bankipur for almost 30 years. Nitin Nabin had repeatedly won the constituency after his predecessor, Naveen Kishore Sinha, and subsequently vacated the seat after moving to the Rajya Sabha and taking up a national BJP role.
The BJP fielded Neeraj Kumar Sinha in the by-election in an effort to retain the constituency, but Kishor succeeded in breaking the party’s long-standing hold.
Youth employment becomes priority:
After taking the oath, Kishor identified employment for Bankipur’s youth as his primary priority.
He has set a target of connecting at least 10,000 young people from the constituency with employment opportunities over the next one to two years.
Prashant Kishor has asked educated job seekers to submit their CVs and biodata at his office so that their qualifications and requirements can be assessed and potential employment opportunities identified.
He clarified, however, that he was not promising government jobs. Instead, he said his efforts would focus on connecting young people with private-sector companies through his professional and nationwide network.
He also acknowledged that some candidates may have to seek employment outside Bihar, saying the priority would be to provide access to genuine job opportunities rather than restrict employment efforts to government positions within the state.
From political strategist to legislator:
Prashant Kishor’s transition from political strategist and founder of the Jan Suraaj movement to an elected legislator marks a major shift in his political career.
His victory has also strengthened his political standing after he successfully challenged the BJP’s established electoral base in Bankipur. His frequent criticism of the BJP leadership and senior state leaders had already made him a prominent voice in Bihar politics.
With the oath-taking ceremony completed, Kishor will now face the challenge of translating his electoral campaign promises into legislative action and measurable work for Bankipur residents.
EOM.
