‘We shall have no alliance’: Prashant Kishor after Bankipur bypoll win

Patna: Fresh from his maiden electoral victory, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Monday ruled out any possibility of joining a political alliance, asserting that his party's only alliance would be "with the people of Bihar" despite growing speculation that the opposition INDIA bloc could seek his support ahead of the Assembly elections.

Kishor made the remarks after defeating BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar by more than 19,000 votes in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll, ending the BJP's uninterrupted hold over the constituency since 1995. The victory also gives the Jan Suraaj Party its first-ever representation in the Bihar Assembly.

Rejecting suggestions that his electoral success could prompt a rethink on his decision to contest independently, Kishor said the mandate reflected the people's willingness to move beyond established political parties.

"We shall have no alliance. Our alliance shall be with the people of Bihar. You should see that the people of Bankipur have voted for us, giving up on established parties," he told reporters.

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Kishor also claimed his victory was made possible with support from dissatisfied workers and supporters across the political spectrum.

"Besides thanking the common citizens, I would like to thank those who helped Jan Suraaj despite not being in the party. Such people were in all parties – BJP, RJD, as well as the Congress," he said.

The Bankipur bypoll was necessitated after former BJP MLA Nitin Nabin vacated the seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha after becoming the party's national president.

Throughout the campaign, Kishor had described the bypoll as a "referendum" on the BJP-led government in Bihar.

Following the result, he also sharpened his criticism of the BJP leadership, calling the defeat a "wake-up call" for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kishor urged the Prime Minister to consider replacing Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, alleging that the state needed leadership with "a good education and a clean record". He argued that if the BJP wished to continue with an OBC chief minister, it should choose someone with an unblemished public image.

Despite Kishor's refusal to align with opposition parties, political observers believe his emphatic victory could encourage the INDIA bloc to initiate talks with him.

Veteran socialist leader Shivanand Tiwary said Kishor's organisational abilities and political energy made him a valuable figure in Bihar politics and urged opposition parties to set aside ideological differences to engage with him.

"The INDIA bloc must approach him. The victory in Bankipur must be viewed in a larger perspective," Tiwary said.

Drawing parallels with the recent Gen Z-led protests, Tiwary said the student movement witnessed across Bihar and other parts of the country had displayed greater political maturity than the JP movement of 1974.

He argued that the Congress, RJD and Left parties should build on the momentum created by the youth protests.

Meanwhile, a senior BJP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that the defeat had come at a difficult time for the party.

The leader said the recent Gen Z protests had exposed signs of weakening support among young voters, particularly from upper-caste communities that have traditionally formed a key segment of the BJP's support base.

According to the leader, dissatisfaction over the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, had contributed to growing discontent among sections of the youth.

The regulations, introduced earlier this year to curb caste-based discrimination and promote equal opportunities in higher education institutions, have faced opposition from several general category groups, who argue that they do not provide adequate safeguards against alleged misuse of the provisions. The Supreme Court has since granted an interim stay on the implementation of the proposed rules.