Patna: Days after BJP nominee Abhishek Kumar Bunty withdrew from the Bankipur Assembly by-election, his father, Ravindra Prasad, has claimed that his son stepped aside to protect the family’s honour after renewed attention on the fodder scam cases involving his parents.
Speaking to a regional digital media outlet, Ravindra Prasad described the development as a “conspiracy”, though he said he could not identify who was behind it.
Abhishek Kumar was announced as the BJP’s candidate for the Bankipur by-election but withdrew his nomination within 72 hours. The party subsequently named Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its candidate.
‘He Withdrew To Protect His Parents’
According to Ravindra Prasad, his son decided not to contest after learning that political attention had shifted to the criminal cases involving his parents.
“He withdrew his nomination to protect our honour and the party’s image,” Ravindra Prasad said, adding that the family was deeply distressed by the developments.
He said Abhishek had spent more than two decades working for the BJP and that the family had been celebrating his candidature before the withdrawal.
“Yesterday there was an atmosphere of celebration; today there is only sadness,” he said.
Family Says Fodder Scam Case Was Reopened In Public Debate
Ravindra Prasad said the criminal proceedings against him and his wife had already concluded and that both had challenged the convictions before the High Court and were currently on bail.
He disputed media reports describing the case as involving hundreds of crores of rupees, claiming that the allegations against them related to withdrawals of around Rs 11 lakh. He said the family would consider legal action against those publishing what he described as inaccurate figures.
Background Of The Case
Ravindra Prasad, a former manager of M/s Magadh Chemicals Corporation, and his wife Chanchala Sinha, associated with the company, were among those prosecuted by the Central Bureau of Investigation in cases linked to the fodder scam.
Court records show that both were convicted in fodder scam-related cases. However, the legal proceedings involved multiple cases with different outcomes over the years.
Earlier court judgments include convictions in certain cases, while Chanchala Sinha was acquitted in the separate Doranda treasury case.
Political Controversy
Abhishek Kumar, a former state vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), has been associated with the BJP for nearly two decades and is regarded as a close associate of former Bankipur MLA Nitin Navin.
Following the announcement of his candidature, opposition parties questioned his family’s legal history and were preparing to raise the issue during the by-election campaign.
Political sources have suggested that the controversy surrounding his parents’ convictions became a matter of concern within the party. However, the BJP has not publicly confirmed the reasons behind replacing Abhishek Kumar.
BJP Yet To Explain Candidate Change
The BJP has not issued an official statement explaining why Abhishek Kumar’s candidature was withdrawn.
The party has maintained that the nomination of Neeraj Kumar Sinha was an organisational decision.
With the candidate change complete, the Bankipur by-election is now set to witness a contest between BJP nominee Neeraj Kumar Sinha and Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor.
