Patna: Counting of votes for the high-profile Bankipur Assembly by-election began at 8am on Monday, with the outcome expected to determine the winner in one of Bihar’s most closely watched electoral contests.
Postal ballots were counted first, followed by the counting of votes recorded in electronic voting machines (EVMs). The by-election has witnessed a triangular contest between Prashant Kishor of Jan Suraaj, Neeraj Sinha of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rekha Gupta of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Tight Security At Counting Centre
Authorities have put in place extensive security arrangements at the counting centre, including a three-tier security system and CCTV surveillance across the premises.
Only authorised election officials, counting staff and accredited counting agents have been allowed inside the counting hall.
Jan Suraaj Claims First-Round Lead
As counting progressed, Jan Suraaj claimed that its founder and candidate Prashant Kishor had taken an early lead in the first round.
According to the party’s national spokesperson, Kumar Saurav Singh, Prashant Kishor was ahead by more than 800 votes.
The figures released by Jan Suraaj for the first round were:
- Prashant Kishor (Jan Suraaj): 2,220 votes
- Neeraj Sinha (BJP): 1,423 votes
- Rekha Gupta (RJD): 501 votes
Official Results Awaited
The Election Commission is expected to release round-wise official results as counting progresses. Until then, claims made by political parties should be treated as unofficial.
The Bankipur by-election is politically significant for all three major contenders. The BJP is seeking to retain the seat, Jan Suraaj is looking to establish itself in Bihar’s electoral landscape, and the RJD is aiming to strengthen its presence in the constituency.
With several rounds of counting still remaining, the outcome is expected to become clearer as official updates are issued by the Election Commission throughout the day.
