Patna: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has replaced its original candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election, naming Neeraj Kumar Sinha in place of Abhishek Kumar just days after announcing the latter’s candidature.
The last-minute change has fuelled political speculation, with the BJP yet to publicly explain the reasons behind the decision. Opposition parties have linked the move to questions surrounding Abhishek Kumar’s nomination papers and the criminal cases involving his parents in the fodder scam.
Here is what is known so far.
What Changed?
The BJP initially nominated Abhishek Kumar for the high-profile Bankipur by-election before announcing Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its new candidate.
The Bankipur contest has drawn statewide attention because Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor is making his electoral debut from the constituency.
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Why Has The Decision Attracted Attention?
Political attention intensified after details of the convictions of Abhishek Kumar’s parents in separate fodder scam-related cases resurfaced.
Opposition leaders also questioned information contained in Abhishek Kumar’s nomination papers.
However, the BJP has not officially stated that either of these issues led to the withdrawal of his candidature.
What Are The Questions Around The Nomination Papers?
According to Election Commission sources cited by local political circles, discrepancies were allegedly noticed in Abhishek Kumar’s educational details submitted with his nomination papers.
Sources also claimed that certain information relating to his educational qualifications and business interests was incomplete or inaccurate.
PatnaPress could not independently verify these claims, and the Election Commission has not publicly announced that the nomination was liable to be rejected.
What Is The Fodder Scam Connection?
Abhishek Kumar’s father, Ravindra Prasad Sinha, was among those convicted in a case arising out of the multi-crore fodder scam.
According to court records, Ravindra Prasad Sinha, who worked as the manager of Patna-based M/s Magadh Chemicals Corporation, was found guilty in the Doranda treasury case. He was sentenced to imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000 by a special CBI court.
His mother, Chanchala Sinha, was also convicted in a separate fodder scam case relating to fraudulent withdrawals from the Animal Husbandry Department. In that case, she was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and fined Rs 80,000.
However, Chanchala Sinha was later acquitted in the separate Doranda treasury case connected with the fodder scam.
What Is The Fodder Scam?
The fodder scam refers to a series of corruption cases involving fraudulent withdrawals from the undivided Bihar government’s Animal Husbandry Department between the early 1990s and 1995.
Investigators alleged that officials, politicians and private suppliers used forged allotment letters, fake bills and fabricated supply records to withdraw public money meant for fodder, medicines and livestock-related equipment.
The alleged fraud, estimated at around Rs 950 crore, eventually resulted in multiple CBI investigations and prosecutions.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad was convicted in several of the cases, while numerous government officials, suppliers and others were also prosecuted. After the creation of Jharkhand in 2000, several cases were transferred to courts in Ranchi.
How Have Opposition Parties Responded?
Opposition leaders have claimed that the BJP withdrew Abhishek Kumar to avoid political embarrassment.
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor said the development showed that “the power of the people is greater than any political force” and criticised the BJP over the change in candidature.
Congress spokesperson Asit Nath Tiwari also questioned the explanation given for the withdrawal and alleged that the real reasons lay elsewhere.
These remarks reflect the views of opposition leaders, and the BJP has not responded publicly to the allegations.
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What Has The BJP Said?
The BJP has officially described the selection of Neeraj Kumar Sinha as an organisational decision.
The party has not issued a detailed public explanation for replacing Abhishek Kumar or responded to the allegations made by opposition parties regarding the reasons behind the change.
With nominations now revised, the Bankipur by-election is set to witness a direct contest between BJP nominee Neeraj Kumar Sinha and Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, making it one of the most closely watched electoral battles in Bihar.
