Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor enters poll fray, to contest Bankipur assembly bypoll

Election strategist-turned politician and founder of Jan Suraaj Party, Prashant Kishor, will contest the Bankipur assembly by-election in Bihar, his party announced on Sunday.

Jan Suraaj Party’s Bihar president Manoj Bharti announced Kishor’s candidature following a meeting of the party’s core committee.

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Addressing  a gathering in constituency, Prashant Kishor said that a BJP defeat will send a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that people are not happy with Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

“Defeat BJP in Bankipur, and the message will reach Modi ji on its own that you are not happy with Samrat Chaudhary becoming CM!!” he said.

The Jan Suraaj founder asserted that people of Bankipur can “redeem entire Bihar” with their votes.

The assembly by-election for the constituency is scheduled to be held on July 30, and the last date of filing nominations is July 13.

The counting of votes will be held on August 3, and the results are also likely to be announced the same day.

The by-poll for Bankipur assembly was necessitated after the resignation of BJP MLA Nitin Nabin following his election to the Rajya Sabha.

The BJP is yet to announce its candidate, with reports suggesting that Ajay Alok, Neel Ratan Ghosh and Ajeet Kumar Lali are front-runners.

Former Bihar CM Lalu Yadav’s son and Janata Janshakti Dal (JJD) chief Tej Pratap Yadav has fielded activist Veena Manvi for the Bankipur bypoll.

Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party had contested the 2026 Bihar Assembly elections but could not open its account.