Patna: In the heart of Patna, the Bankipur assembly constituency, a traditional BJP bastion, is buzzing with anticipation ahead of the July 30 byelection. Long associated with the political legacy of the father-son duo of Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha and Nitin Nabin, the seat has emerged as a litmus test of urban voter sentiment in Bihar’s capital.With Nitin, the long-serving MLA and now BJP national president, having resigned after his election to the Rajya Sabha, voters will cast their ballots without seeing his name on the ballot for the first time in nearly two decades. While many residents express pride in his elevation to national politics, others point to anti-incumbency over persistent civic problems. Young and educated voters, in particular, say they are looking for alternatives to traditional caste-based and dynastic politics.The constituency has around 3.8 lakh electors. Key issues include urban development, traffic congestion, infrastructure, education, employment, healthcare, law and order and migration of youth. Residents say they are frustrated with the slow pace of development despite repeated promises and expect better governance and faster execution of civic projects.Safety and law and order remain major concerns, particularly for women, senior citizens and traders. Residents say they expect stronger policing, prompt action against crime and better security in markets and residential areas.Shweta Singh, a resident of Khazanchi Road, said law and order remained the biggest concern for working women. “I have seen that the juveniles are taking drugs and committing crimes. This needs to be addressed and strict action should be taken against such anti-social elements. Another problem is the poor condition of the road due to several infrastructure related work going on in the area,” she said.Access to quality public services is another major issue. Voters are demanding better govt schools, improved healthcare facilities, regular drinking water supply, efficient waste management and cleaner neighbourhoods.Hemant Sharma, a vendor at Lohanipur, said urban development should focus not only on new projects but also on maintaining existing infrastructure. “Roads have been built but never repaired, parks have been opened but not maintained. These small things should not be overlooked. Uninterrupted water supply to household is also important especially in this summer,” he said.First-time voters say they want candidates who remain accessible after elections and continue engaging with local residents. Others say they will judge candidates by their promises. Binita Pathak, a college student, said, “Prashant Kishore is a promising candidate, but we have to wait and watch the contestants to be fielded by the ruling and the opposition party.”“No doubt, work has been going on in Bankipur constituency, but not with pace. Even after years, the metro service has not started in the main city. The youth need more better colleges and job opportunities,” said Saurabh Suman, a resident of Rajendra Nagar.Traders want better infrastructure, youth seek jobs and families demand safer, cleaner neighbourhoods. The outcome on Aug 3 is expected to indicate whether Bankipur’s voters continue backing a long-established political legacy or opt for change.
