Patna: The 34.3% voter turnout sealed the fate of 25 candidates in the Bankipur assembly byelection held at 422 polling booths in Patna on Thursday.The outcome is likely to be decided by a thin margin though the political parties in the fray were confident of victory by a huge margin. The BJP had defeated RJD by over 51,000 votes in the last assembly election. Bankipur is known for low voter turnout, which was 41.1% in the Nov 2025 assembly election and the highest so far in this assembly constituency.If what the youth and people said are to be believed, it was a keen contest, mainly between BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha and Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor while RJD’s Rekha Gupta made it a triangular fight.The seat, a stronghold of BJP since 1995, was vacated by its national president Nitin Nabin following his election to the Rajya Sabha. The Mahagathbandhan’s best performance in the last five elections was in 2015, when Congress candidate Ashish Kumar secured 46,992 votes. At that time, the alliance comprised Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), Lalu Prasad’s RJD and the Congress. RJD’s Rekha Gupta, who also contested the 2025 election, had secured 29.83% of votes, compared to Nitin’s 63.25%. BJP has never scored less than 50% of votes in Bankipur (erstwhile Patna West) since the 1995 election. BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi also claimed that the NDA-backed candidate will win by a record margin.This byelection, the first after the recent student protests, is a battle of prestige for the BJP, which banked on the development done by Nitin. Prashant generated political interest at the national level and appealed for votes for a change. The contest is seen as a direct face-off between the BJP and Jan Suraaj while RJD is trying to wrest the seat. All three main contenders claimed victory. The result will be announced on Aug 3.Polling was peaceful amid the BJP’s allegations that fake voters were trying to cast votes. Prashant claimed the police harassed his workers and polling agents.There were incidents of minor scuffles between BJP and Jan Suraaj supporters in some areas like Kidwaipuri, Jakkanpur, A N College campus and S K Puri. Prashant alleged that police detained more than 16 Jan Suraaj workers and put them in different police stations. “They were detained to keep them away from the election. Police did not say what crime they had committed,” he alleged.There was commotion at polling station number 143 on Daldali Road when local residents alleged a change in the EVMs. However, officials clarified that four EVMs at the polling station had developed technical faults and were replaced after noting down the 53 votes polled till then, in accordance with the rules.BJP supporters accused the Jan Suraaj workers of disturbing their voters outside booth numbers 97, 98 and 99. RJD’s Rekha alleged violation of the model code of conduct in Bhawanpokhar area. She further alleged that ‘Jeevika Didis’ were being deployed solely to wield power and authority.BJP’s Neeraj took aim at the opposition and said, “We don’t engage in idle talk. We talk about development. The opposition only talks nonsense.”Kayasthas, Bhumihars, Brahmins, Rajputs, and Vaishyas together account for approximately half of the electorate in Bankipur. For the past three decades, this segment has been the BJP’s core support base.Meanwhile, police seized Rs1.17 lakh from a vehicle in Pirbahore police station area during the polling period and were verifying the source of the cash.
