Patna: With just eight days left for polling in the high-stakes Bankipur Assembly by-election, political tensions have escalated sharply after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lodged a complaint against Jan Suraaj founder and Bankipur candidate Prashant Kishor, alleging that he has exceeded the prescribed election expenditure limit. The complaint has been followed by Income Tax (IT) raids and allegations of police harassment, prompting Jan Suraaj to accuse the state administration of targeting its leaders and supporters.
BJP Alleges Excess Election Spending
On July 21, a BJP delegation comprising minister Mithilesh Tiwari, MLAs Jivesh Mishra and Janak Ram, along with leaders Danish Iqbal and Rakesh Thakur, met officials of the Election Commission and submitted a complaint against Prashant Kishor.
The BJP alleged that Kishor was spending far beyond the ₹40 lakh expenditure limit prescribed for the by-election and was allegedly routing campaign funds through private firms.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, senior BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain claimed that the party had submitted evidence to the Election Commission. He further alleged that companies such as Simple Sense Analytics Pvt. Ltd. and News Lighthouse LLP were being used to conduct social media campaigns while concealing election expenses. The BJP has also sought an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into the funding.
IT Raids on Jan Suraaj Office and Supporters
On July 22, Income Tax officials conducted searches at the Jan Suraaj party office located in Ward No. 25 in Patna. According to party sources, officials examined documents and financial records and questioned those present at the office. However, authorities have not officially disclosed the reason behind the searches.
The same day, IT teams also carried out raids at the residence and hotel premises of Jan Suraaj state secretary Ravi Narayan Singh, who is considered a close associate of Prashant Kishor.
Singh alleged that police had repeatedly searched his hotels, threatened to seal the properties, and warned him of possible arrest. He further claimed that officers also reached the hotel where Prashant Kishor was staying and attempted to intimidate party workers.
Jan Suraaj Alleges Political Harassment
A Jan Suraaj delegation led by state president Manoj Bharti met the Chief Electoral Officer on July 22 and accused the BJP of violating the Model Code of Conduct while using the police machinery to harass party workers.
Bharti alleged that party supporters were being detained without valid reasons and claimed that police had conducted late-night visits to the homes of several workers in Patna and other districts. He further alleged that traders in the Bankipur constituency were being threatened with Income Tax and GST raids if they supported Jan Suraaj.
The party has maintained that no FIRs have been registered against several of the workers allegedly questioned by the police.
Timing of Raids Raises Political Questions
Although no official statement has linked the IT and police action directly to the Bankipur bypoll, Jan Suraaj leaders argue that the timing of the raids indicates political targeting aimed at weakening the party during the final phase of campaigning.
Political observers note that enforcement agency actions close to elections have occurred in previous Bihar elections as well. Similar raids were reported before the 2020 Assembly elections and during politically sensitive periods in 2022 and 2025.
Tight Contest Emerging in Bankipur
Political analysts believe the Bankipur contest has become increasingly competitive, although the BJP continues to enjoy an organisational advantage.
Several factors are expected to influence the outcome:
- Student unrest: Anger over recent paper leak controversies and protests may benefit Prashant Kishor, who has been actively raising issues concerning students and unemployed youth.
- BJP’s intensive campaign: The BJP has deployed nearly 6,000 workers, assigned ministers to every ward, and appointed senior leaders for all 422 polling booths in the constituency to strengthen its campaign.
- Opposition dynamics: While RJD candidate Rekha Gupta continues to campaign, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has remained absent from the campaign trail. Political analysts suggest this could lead to a consolidation of anti-BJP votes in favour of Prashant Kishor.
Analysts caution, however, that the election remains highly unpredictable, with campaign developments in the final week likely to play a decisive role.
Polling for the Bankipur Assembly by-election is scheduled to take place in eight days amid heightened political activity and increased scrutiny of campaign practices.
