Patna, August 3, 2026 - In a stunning upset, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor defeated BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar to wrest control of the Bankipur Assembly constituency in Bihar, ending the party's continuous grip on the seat since 1995.
Kishor, making his electoral debut, secured 63,203 votes to win by a margin of 18,953 votes. He polled 63,203 votes while BJP's Neeraj Kumar secured 44,250 votes. RJD candidate Rekha Kumari stood third with 14,085 votes, trailing the winner by 49,118 votes.
The result, finalised after 31 rounds of counting at AN College in Patna, marks Jan Suraaj's first-ever Assembly victory. The seat had been vacated by BJP national president Nitin Nabin, who resigned in April after his election to the Rajya Sabha.
- Voter Turnout: 34.30%, a sharp drop of over 7 percentage points from the 41.45% in the 2025 Assembly polls.
- Candidates: A triangular contest with 25 others, including independents and minor parties.
- Reactions: Celebrations erupted at Jan Suraaj headquarters and outside the counting centre, with supporters dancing and distributing sweets. The BJP state president accepted the verdict gracefully, stating, “The Bharatiya Janata Party humbly accepts the mandate of the Bankipur by-election and respects the people’s decision.”
This victory is a significant blow to the BJP, which has never lost Bankipur in the last three decades. It also signals a breakthrough for the emerging Jan Suraaj Party, which had drawn a blank in the 2025 Assembly polls despite contesting 238 seats.
The bypoll, held on July 30, saw low turnout amid tight security arrangements. Kishor’s win could reshape the political landscape in Bihar, especially as the state navigates post-Nitish Kumar dynamics.