Patna: Prashant Kishor is set to make his electoral debut after the Jan Suraaj Party decided to field him as its candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election in Patna.
The party is expected to formally approve his candidature at a core committee meeting on Friday, with an official announcement scheduled for July 5.
Jan Suraaj Finalises Kishor’s Name
Senior Jan Suraaj leaders said the decision followed discussions within the party and feedback from supporters in the Bankipur constituency.
Kishor Kumar Munna, a senior party leader, said the decision was taken in line with what the party described as the wishes of local residents.
State President Manoj Bharti also confirmed at a press conference that Prashant Kishor was the party’s choice for the seat, adding that the candidature would be formally announced after the core committee’s approval.
If confirmed, the election will mark the first time the political strategist-turned-politician contests an election himself.
Campaign Underway
Jan Suraaj has stepped up its campaign in the Bankipur constituency ahead of the by-election.
Party workers have been conducting door-to-door outreach, while Prashant Kishor has held interactions with residents and various community groups. The party’s digital campaign has also intensified in preparation for the poll.
Speaking to reporters in Vaishali earlier, Kishor said he would abide by the party’s decision on whether he should contest.
“The party will decide the candidate. If the party decides that I should contest, then I will,” he said.
He had previously stated that he was prepared to contest personally if that was required to challenge the BJP in the constituency.
High-Profile Contest
The Bankipur by-election is expected to attract significant political attention.
The seat fell vacant after BJP leader Nitin Nabin resigned as MLA following his election to the Rajya Sabha.
The by-election will also be the first electoral contest since Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary emerged as the BJP’s projected chief ministerial face in Bihar, making the outcome politically significant for both the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition.
Jan Suraaj leaders have portrayed the contest as an opportunity for voters to send a political message to the BJP.
Election Schedule
The Election Commission has announced that nominations for the Bankipur by-election will begin on July 6, with July 13 as the last date for filing nomination papers.
Candidates will be able to withdraw their nominations until July 16.
Polling is scheduled for July 30, while votes will be counted on August 3.
Other Parties Yet To Announce Candidates
The Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD), led by former minister Tej Pratap Yadav, has already announced social activist Veena Manvi as its candidate.
The BJP-led NDA and the opposition Mahagathbandhan are yet to declare their nominees.
BJP Bastion
Bankipur has been one of the BJP’s strongest Assembly constituencies for three decades.
The seat—formerly known as Patna West before the 2008 delimitation—has remained with the party since 1995, when Naveen Kishore Prasad Sinha won the constituency.
After his death, his son Nitin Nabin retained the seat in successive elections before vacating it earlier this year upon entering the Rajya Sabha.
The by-election will determine whether the BJP retains one of its longest-held constituencies or whether Jan Suraaj can secure its first major electoral breakthrough under Prashant Kishor’s leadership.
