Patna: Bankipur Assembly by-election recorded its lowest voter turnout in recent years, with polling reaching 34.39 per cent by 6:30 PM, according to the Election Commission. The figure was 7.23 percentage points lower than the 41.39 per cent turnout recorded in the previous Assembly election.
Despite the decline in voter participation, the polling process remained largely peaceful. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Jan Suraaj each claimed that the lower turnout would work in their favour.
Turnout Declines Sharply
Election Commission data showed that voter participation stood at 34.39 per cent by the close of polling updates at 6:30 PM, compared with 41.39 per cent in the previous election.
Historical turnout data indicates fluctuating participation in the constituency:
| Assembly Election Year | Voter Turnout (%) |
| 2025 | 41.39 |
| 2020 | 35.92 |
| 2015 | 40.25 |
| 2010 | 37.71 |
In the previous Assembly election, BJP candidate Nitin Nabin secured 62.66 per cent of the votes. RJD candidate Rekha Gupta received 29.55 per cent, while Jan Suraaj candidate Vandana Kumari secured 4.92 per cent. NOTA received 1,460 votes.
Polling Largely Peaceful
District Election Officer Kundan Kumar said polling concluded peacefully across the constituency, with no major law and order incidents reported.
He said minor altercations between workers of different political parties were reported at a few polling stations. Election officials also replaced Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at three polling centres after technical malfunctions.
BJP Raises Allegations of Fake Voting
Soon after polling began, the BJP submitted a complaint to the Election Commission alleging that Jan Suraaj supporters were using fake voters.
Following the complaint, clashes were reported between BJP and Jan Suraaj workers at polling booths in Boring Canal Road, Kidwaipuri and PNT Colony. Police and district officials intervened to restore order.
Protest at Jakkanpur Police Station
Jan Suraaj founder and Bankipur candidate Prashant Kishor, along with hundreds of party workers, staged a sit-in at the Jakkanpur police station after alleging that party workers engaged in booth management and election duties had been detained.
A prolonged standoff took place between supporters and the Station House Officer as they sought information about the detained workers.
Separately, at a polling booth in Sabzibagh, RJD candidate Rekha Gupta alleged that BJP workers were facilitating fake voting. Election authorities had not publicly confirmed these allegations at the time of reporting.
