Patna: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has named Rekha Gupta as its candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election, reaffirming the party’s faith in the former nominee who contested the seat in the last Assembly election.
The announcement was made on Monday by RJD Bihar president Mangnilal Mandal at the party’s state headquarters in Patna.
Gupta had contested the previous Assembly election from Bankipur but lost to the BJP’s Nitin Navin. She has now been renominated as the Mahagathbandhan candidate for the by-election.
Rekha Gupta Thanks Party Leadership
Speaking after the announcement, Gupta thanked the party leadership for reposing confidence in her and said she had been receiving support from voters across the constituency.
She pointed to the sizeable Vaishya community in Bankipur and expressed confidence that the RJD would be able to win the seat this time.
Referring to her earlier campaign, Gupta said she had overcome challenges with public support in the past and believed voters would once again stand by her.
Takes Aim At Prashant Kishor And BJP
Responding to questions about Prashant Kishor, whose Jan Suraaj party has fielded its founder for the by-election, Gupta said there was a distinction between being a political strategist and a politician.
She maintained that the RJD was contesting the election with full strength and claimed the BJP would face a tougher challenge than in previous contests.
Appealing directly to voters, Gupta noted that the BJP and its predecessors had represented the constituency for decades. Describing herself as “a daughter of Bankipur” and a woman candidate, she urged residents to give her an opportunity to serve for the remaining term.
You may like to read this article as well:
Prashant Kishor To Contest Bankipur By-Election As Jan Suraaj Bets On Founder Against BJP
Congress Claim Gives Way To RJD
The candidature ends speculation within the Mahagathbandhan, after the Congress had also expressed interest in contesting the by-election.
Mangnilal Mandal said there was no disagreement among alliance partners over Gupta’s nomination, noting that she had already been the alliance’s candidate for the constituency in the previous Assembly election.
He said her selection had the support of the alliance and did not require further deliberation.
Among those present at the announcement were RJD National General Secretary Abdul Bari Siddiqui, MLC Sunil Kumar Singh, Chief Spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav, and other senior party leaders.
