The BJP lacks a capable candidate to contest against it in the July 30 elections, said Jan Suraj, founder and Bihar’s Bankipore poll candidate Prashant Kishor. On Friday, Abhishek Kumar Sinha withdrew his BJP nomination from the same seat, citing family reasons. In his place, the BJP has now nominated youth wing leader Neeraj Kumar Sinha, who is scheduled to file his nomination on Monday.
Kishor told reporters on Saturday that the withdrawal of his candidacy by a BJP candidate is unprecedented, as former candidates from his rival parties used to withdraw their names for fear of the saffron party.
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Describing the development as a victory for the strength of democracy and people’s confidence, Kishor told reporters in Patna: “The message is clear: people want change now and are finding their voice. This time, they will teach the BJP a lesson in its stronghold. The saffron party lacks a candidate of the caliber.”
People want to rise above caste, religion: Kishore
Kishor claimed that Abhishek Sinha’s withdrawal showed that people are rising above caste and religion to respond to the cheating they faced in the last elections in November 2025.
“This is the power of democracy… Once people rise up, leaving behind caste, religion, party and leader, the candidate of a party like BJP escapes from here… The people of Bihar have been cheated in November 2025…,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
Read also | ‘BJP is afraid of Prashant Kishor’: Jan Suraj after Abhishek Kumar Sinha withdraws nomination
Kishor said the BJP could see defeat looming in Bankipur, which is why its candidate ran away, as people decided to punish the saffron party.
“The BJP is known to lure or intimidate candidates from its rivals. And now its candidate is absconding. The BJP is worried about the possibilities of defeat. They used to boast that they can win in Bankipur even if they field anyone. People have decided to punish the BJP,” Kishor said, as quoted by PTI.
“The people of Bihar are clear in their view that someone like Samrat Chaudhary, given his behaviour, personality and public image, cannot be imposed as chief minister of Bihar. The chief minister can come from any community; this is not the issue. The real issue is choosing a capable and worthy person,” said Jan Suraj party founder.
When does the by-poll and counting of votes take place?
Bankipur has been a BJP stronghold, with its president Nitin Nabin winning the seat five times in a row. The bypoll was necessary for Nabin’s election to the Rajya Sabha after he was appointed national president of the BJP. The by-elections are scheduled to be held on July 30, with the results announced on August 3.
