Jan Suraaj has named founder Prashant Kishor as its candidate for the July 30 Bankipur Assembly by-election in Bihar, setting up a closely watched contest in a constituency long considered a BJP stronghold.
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor will contest the upcoming Bankipur Assembly by-election in Bihar.
The announcement was made on Sunday by Jan Suraaj state president Manoj Bharti after a meeting of the party's core committee. Kishor's candidature comes months after Jan Suraaj failed to open its account in the 2025 Assembly elections.
The Bankipur by-election is scheduled to be held on July 30, with counting of votes set for August 3. The last date for filing nominations is July 13.
The bypoll was necessitated after BJP leader Nitin Nabin vacated the seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha. Bankipur, a key urban constituency in Patna, has long been considered a stronghold of the BJP.
With Prashant Kishor entering the fray, the election is expected to draw considerable political attention as it will test Jan Suraaj's electoral appeal in a constituency dominated by established parties.
Meanwhile, Janata Janshakti Dal (JJD) chief Tej Pratap Yadav has already announced social activist Veena Manvi as his party's candidate for the by-election.
The BJP is yet to officially name its nominee for the seat. However, names such as Ajay Alok, Neel Ratan Ghosh and Ajeet Kumar Lali are reportedly being discussed within the party.
With PTI inputs
Published: 05 Jul 2026, 03:38 pm IST
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