By Kavita Sharma
Photo Credit: The Suncity News
Patna, August 3, 2026:
Prashant Kishor, the founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, has strengthened his position in the Bankipur Assembly by-election after 13 rounds of vote counting.
Prashant Kishor has taken a decisive lead after 18 rounds:
Contesting on the ‘School Bag’ symbol, Kishor has secured 26,113 votes and is leading by 7,119 votes over his nearest rival. BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha is currently in second place with 18,994 votes, while RJD’s Rekha Gupta remains third with 5,583 votes.
The widening gap has intensified the political contest in Bankipur, traditionally considered a stronghold of the BJP.
Kishor’s sustained lead has triggered considerable discussion in political circles, with the Jan Suraaj candidate emerging as a strong challenger in his first Assembly election.
The Bankipur by-election was necessitated by the resignation of BJP leader Nitin Nabin, who vacated the seat after becoming the BJP’s national president and Rajya Sabha member.
The constituency recorded a voter turnout of 34.30 percent on July 30.
A total of 25 candidates are contesting the by-election, with approximately 1.30 lakh votes being counted.
Triangular contest in Bankipur:
The main contest, however, has effectively emerged between Prashant Kishor, BJP’s Neeraj Sinha and RJD’s Rekha Gupta.
The BJP’s traditional strength in Bankipur makes Kishor’s content lead particularly significant.
A defeat for the BJP would represent a major political setback, while a victory for Kishor would provide a substantial boost to the Jan Suraaj Party and its political ambitions in Bihar.
Counting has been underway at AN College in Patna since 8 AM.
Votes from 422 polling stations are being counted in 30 rounds across 14 tables. Security arrangements around the counting centre remain stringent.
More than 300 security personnel have been deployed, while drone surveillance is being used to monitor the area within a 300-metre radius.
Traffic restrictions have also been imposed on several roads surrounding the AN College.
With 13 rounds completed, Prashant Kishor has established a substantial lead, but the final result will depend on the remaining rounds of counting.
All eyes are now on whether the Jan Suraaj candidate can convert his early advantage into a historic electoral victory in the BJP’s traditional stronghold.
EOM.
