Patna: The contest for the Bankipur Assembly by-election intensified on Monday as BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, RJD nominee Rekha Gupta, and Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) candidate Veena Manvi filed their nomination papers.
The affidavits submitted by the candidates reveal a sharp contrast in their financial profiles and criminal records. Among the four, Prashant Kishor is by far the wealthiest, declaring assets worth Rs 197.99 crore—nearly 950 times more than BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha, whose total assets stand at Rs 20.28 lakh.
Prashant Kishor Declares Rs 197.99 Crore Assets
According to his election affidavit, Prashant Kishor has declared total assets worth Rs 197.99 crore, including Rs 22.19 crore in movable assets and Rs 73.87 crore in immovable assets. His wife, Jahnavi Das, owns movable assets worth Rs 89.51 crore and immovable assets valued at Rs 12.42 crore.
Despite his wealth, Kishor has declared that he does not own a car or any agricultural land. He owns 3.21 acres of non-agricultural land in Rohtas district, purchased in 2014 for a rice mill project and currently valued at Rs 9.75 crore.
His affidavit also states that he has fixed deposits worth approximately Rs 7.36 crore, while his wife holds deposits of around Rs 67 lakh.
His residential properties include a plot in Patna’s New Pataliputra Colony, a house in Delhi’s Vasant Vihar, flats in Ghaziabad’s Indirapuram and Vasundhara, residential land in Buxar, and a house in Rohtas district. His wife owns residential properties in Guwahati and Noida.
Eight Criminal Cases Against Prashant Kishor
The affidavit states that Prashant Kishor faces eight criminal cases, including charges related to rioting, obstructing public servants from performing official duties, criminal conspiracy and criminal defamation. The cases remain pending before various courts.
Rs 85 Crore Donated to Jan Suraaj Party
Prashant Kishor has also disclosed that Vedhas Ventures Private Limited, a company in which he holds a 100% controlling stake, donated Rs 85 crore to the Jan Suraaj Party during the financial year 2024-25. The company also contributed Rs 50 lakh to the Jan Suraaj Foundation and had donated Rs 2.75 crore to the Joy of Giving Global Foundation in 2023-24.
BJP’s Neeraj Kumar Sinha Declares Rs 20.28 Lakh Assets
Thirty-two-year-old BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha has declared assets worth Rs 20.28 lakh, including approximately Rs 8 lakh in immovable property. His affidavit states that no criminal cases are pending against him.
Sinha was named the BJP candidate after the party withdrew the candidature of Abhishek Kumar Sinha alias Bunty, following controversies related to his family and educational certificate. A grassroots party worker from a modest background, Neeraj’s family has long been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
RJD Candidate Rekha Gupta Owns Rs 8 Crore Assets
RJD candidate Rekha Gupta has declared assets worth nearly Rs 8 crore. She has also reported liabilities of approximately Rs 3.16 crore.
Her affidavit mentions one FIR related to a property dispute. Gupta, a graduate from Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribagh, has declared around 500 grams of gold, 1.5 kilograms of silver, and a licensed rifle valued at Rs 90,000.
JJD Candidate Veena Manvi Arrested After Filing Nomination
Janshakti Janata Dal candidate Veena Manvi, contesting under the leadership of Tej Pratap Yadav, was arrested by Patna Police shortly after filing her nomination papers on Monday.
Police personnel intercepted her outside the District Magistrate’s office. According to eyewitnesses, Manvi attempted to evade arrest, leading to a brief commotion outside the premises before she was taken into custody and later brought to Gandhi Maidan Police Station.
Her party alleged that the arrest was politically motivated, while police maintained that the action was taken in compliance with a non-bailable warrant issued by a court in connection with a 2009 cheating case under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code.
According to her election affidavit, Manvi has declared assets worth Rs 2.37 crore, including Rs 2 crore in immovable property and Rs 37.69 lakh in movable assets. She has also disclosed three criminal cases, including allegations of cheating and criminal conspiracy.
Nearly 3.8 Lakh Voters to Decide the Contest
The Bankipur bypoll has 3,79,402 registered voters, comprising 2,00,589 male voters, 1,78,794 female voters, and 19 third-gender voters.
Election Commission data shows that male voters account for approximately 53% of the electorate, while women constitute about 47%, reflecting a gender gap of nearly six percentage points.
High-Stakes Electoral Battle
The bypoll has emerged as a politically significant contest for all major parties.
For the BJP, the election is viewed as a test of its urban stronghold after the last-minute replacement of its original candidate.
For Prashant Kishor, who is contesting an election for the first time, the bypoll is seen as a crucial test of Jan Suraaj’s organisational strength and electoral appeal.
The RJD hopes to expand its footprint in urban Bihar, while Veena Manvi’s candidature has brought visibility to Tej Pratap Yadav’s newly launched Janshakti Janata Dal despite the controversy surrounding her arrest.
