Patna: Voting for the Bankipur Assembly by-election concluded on Thursday with an overall voter turnout of 34.30%, marking a decline of nearly 7 percentage points compared to the 41.39% turnout recorded in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
With polling now complete, the fate of all candidates has been sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The contest is primarily seen as a triangular fight between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Neeraj Sinha, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Rekha Gupta, and Jan Suraaj candidate Prashant Kishor. Counting of votes will take place on August 3.
Leaders Express Confidence Ahead of Results
Even before the counting, leaders from the major parties expressed confidence about their prospects.
Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav claimed that RJD candidate Rekha Gupta had received support from voters across communities, castes and religions, asserting that the party was confident of winning the Bankipur seat.
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh dismissed Jan Suraaj’s chances, saying the BJP faced no serious challenge in the constituency. Referring to Prashant Kishor, he said the latter had made similar claims in previous elections and had no realistic chance of victory.
Meanwhile, Jan Suraaj founder and candidate Prashant Kishor claimed that the BJP was facing defeat even in its traditional strongholds. He alleged that people were being intimidated by “outsiders” and accused sections of the administration of helping the BJP. The BJP has not publicly responded to these allegations.
Tension Reported at Several Polling Booths
Polling day witnessed sporadic tensions at a few locations.
At Anandpuri, supporters of the BJP and Jan Suraaj reportedly clashed in the presence of Prashant Kishor before the situation was brought under control. Kishor alleged that police were harassing his party workers and polling agents, intimidating voters, and removing Jan Suraaj help desks.
A similar confrontation was reported in Kidwaipuri, where supporters of the BJP and Jan Suraaj allegedly engaged in a scuffle in the presence of police. Jan Suraaj workers accused a former BJP candidate, identified as Bunty, of preventing people from voting and attempting to influence the polling process. They also staged a protest in the PNT Colony area.
Jan Suraaj workers further alleged that some individuals inside polling booths were asking voters to cast their votes in favour of the BJP and demanded police action. These allegations could not be independently verified.
Separately, officials reportedly recovered ₹1.17 lakh in cash near Khetan Market during polling. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether the seizure was linked to the election.
BJP’s Traditional Stronghold
The by-election assumes significance as Nitin Nabin, who represented Bankipur for five consecutive terms, vacated the seat after becoming the BJP’s national president.
Nabin first won the constituency in the 2006 by-election, when it was known as Patna West, and retained it in every subsequent Assembly election. In the 2025 Assembly election, he defeated RJD’s Rekha Gupta by a margin of 51,936 votes.
Voters Raise Local Concerns
Several voters highlighted governance and public safety issues while casting their ballots.
Resident S.S. Gupta said the bypoll may not significantly affect the BJP politically but believed it had become a prestige battle for both Nitin Nabin and Prashant Kishor.
Retired government official Vijay Kumar expressed dissatisfaction with the electoral system, saying the same political leaders often switched parties while remaining in power, making it difficult for ordinary citizens to enter politics.
Many women voters stressed the need for stronger action against crimes targeting women. A voter at a polling booth in Kadamkuan said ensuring the safety of girls should be a priority and added that every voter was exercising their democratic right by choosing the candidate they preferred.
