Bankipur by-election: BJP candidate Abhishek Kumar Sinha withdraws candidature, replaced by Neeraj Kumar Sinha

Abhishek Kumar Sinha alias Bunty, the BJP candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election, has withdrawn his candidature, a day after filing his nomination papers. The party has now fielded Neeraj Kumar Sinha from the seat.

Abhishek had on July 9 filed his nomination in the presence of several senior NDA leaders, with the saffron party showcasing its organisational strength during the event. However, within 24 hours, he held a press conference to announce that he would not contest the election, citing family reasons.

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Announcing his decision, Abhishek said he has submitted a letter in this regard to State President Sanjay Saraogi. He noted that he was unable to contest due to family reasons and will continue to serve as a party worker.

Abhishek has even thanked the party leadership for reposing faith in him and reiterated his commitment to continue working for the party despite withdrawing from the contest.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party had selected me as the NDA candidate for the by-election in the Bankipur Assembly constituency. I express my gratitude to the central and state leadership for this. I wish to humbly inform you that, due to family reasons, I am unable to contest the Assembly by-election. I will continue to serve faithfully as a party worker,” he said.

भाजपा की केंद्रीय चुनाव समिति ने मध्य प्रदेश एवं बिहार विधानसभा उपचुनाव 2026 के लिए निम्नलिखित नामों पर अपनी स्वीकृति प्रदान की है। pic.twitter.com/ta9pvmTSug

— BJP (@BJP4India) July 10, 2026

Neeraj Kumar Sinha, who is “overjoyed” by the party’s decision, said he was “deeply grateful” to the top leadership, the state president as well as BJP National President Nitin Nabin.

“I am grateful to them all. I started as a booth mantri; I served as a mandal president twice and also worked as a district vice-president in the Yuva Morcha. I am certain of a massive victory. Working together with all the party workers and the general public—who are going to shower their blessings on the Bankipur constituency—we will succeed. People will vote based on the work done by our leadership,” he said.

#WATCH | Bye-elections | Bihar BJP President Sanjay Sarogi felicitates party’s candidate from Bihar’s Bankipur Assembly seat, Neeraj Kumar Sinha

Neeraj Kumar Sinha says, “I am overjoyed. I am deeply grateful to the top leadership, the state president, our leader Nitin Nabin ji,… pic.twitter.com/aKPWkznCQq

— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2026

The Bankipur Assembly seat was earlier represented by Nitin Nabin. It fell vacant after his election to the Rajya Sabha, necessitating the by-election.