Patna: In a high-stakes move set to energise Bihar’s political landscape, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Sunday announced his candidature for the upcoming Bankipur assembly byelection, triggered after BJP president Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha and vacated the prestigious seat.Describing the contest as a “referendum” on the two-month-old BJP-led NDA govt in Bihar, Prashant sought to transform what would ordinarily have been a local bypoll into one of the state’s most closely watched electoral battles.Addressing a press conference in Patna, the poll strategist-turned-politician projected the election as a defining moment for Bihar. “The upcoming byelection is going to be a referendum on the working of the two-month-old govt of Samrat Choudhary,” Prashant said.The Bankipur seat in Patna, a traditional BJP bastion since the 1990s, has long been associated with Nitin’s family. He built a political stronghold in Bankipur, formerly known as the Patna Paschim seat, by winning five consecutive assembly elections. Nitin entered active politics in 2006 following the sudden death of his father and then MLA, Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha.Acknowledging the formidable challenge of taking on the BJP in its own stronghold, Prashant directly challenged the ruling alliance. “If the BJP wins, I will have no hesitation in conceding that the saffron party continues to enjoy public support. If we win, it shall be for them to read the writing on the wall,” he said.Despite the high-profile challenge from Jan Suraaj, the BJP appears unperturbed and is relying on its decades-long dominance in the urban constituency. Though widely expected to retain the seat, the party is yet to announce its candidate. The opposition bloc comprising the RJD, Congress and Left parties has also kept its cards close to chest with no candidate declared so far.Adding another dimension to the contest, former state minister Tej Pratap Yadav, who recently floated the Janshakti Janata Dal after being expelled from the RJD by his father Lalu Prasad, has extended support to social activist Veena Manvi.Political observers believe Prashant’s decision to contest has turned Bankipur into a crucial test for Jan Suraaj. A victory for him would deal a significant political blow to the Samrat Choudhary administration, while a BJP win would reinforce the party’s dominance among urban voters in Bihar. With multiple contenders entering the fray, the Bankipur byelection is shaping up to be one of the most keenly watched political contests in the state.The filing of nomination papers will begin on Monday and continue till July 13. Voting is scheduled for July 30, while counting of votes will take place on Aug 3.
