'BJP Is Scared Of Prashant Kishor': Jan Suraaj After Abhishek Kumar Sinha Withdraws From Bankipur Bypoll

Published 10 July 2026 · local

'BJP Is Scared Of Prashant Kishor': Jan Suraaj After Abhishek Kumar Sinha Withdraws From Bankipur Bypoll Published By, Last Updated: July 10, 2026, 22:21 IST

'BJP Is Scared Of Prashant Kishor': Jan Suraaj After Abhishek Kumar Sinha Withdraws From Bankipur Bypoll Published By, Last Updated: July 10, 2026, 22:21 IST Jan Suraaj accused the BJP of being "scared" of Prashant Kishor after the party replaced its Bankipur bypoll candidate. Rapid Read News18 The Jan Suraaj Party on Friday alleged that the BJP was “scared" of its founder, Prashant Kishor, after the ruling party changed its candidate for the upcoming Bankipur Assembly bypoll in Bihar. The charge came after BJP’s original nominee, Abhishek Kumar Sinha, withdrew his nomination just a day after filing his papers. Reacting to the development, Jan Suraaj posted on X, saying, “Prashant Kishor se dari BJP ne chhoda maidan" (BJP, scared of Prashant Kishor, abandons the battlefield). Sinha, however, maintained that his decision was driven by personal circumstances. “The BJP had made me the NDA candidate for the bypoll to the Bankipur assembly seat.

I express my gratitude to the central and state leadership. However, due to family reasons, I am unable to contest the bypoll," he told a press conference in Patna. The BJP had announced Sinha, a leader of its youth wing, as its candidate on Tuesday for the Bankipur bypoll. The seat fell vacant after BJP national president Nitin Nabin resigned as MLA following his election to the Rajya Sabha. The party has now fielded Neeraj Kumar Sinha against Prashant Kishor in the July 30 bypoll. RJD candidate Rekha Kumari is also in the contest. Kishor Calls Bypoll A ‘Referendum’ On Bihar Government: Prashant Kishor announced his candidature for the Bankipur bypoll on Sunday, describing the election as a “referendum" on the performance of the BJP-led government in Bihar. Addressing party workers in Patna, the former political strategist urged the constituency’s nearly four lakh voters to “vote for making a difference." The last date for filing nominations is July 13.

Polling will be held on July 30, while the votes will be counted on August 3. Targets Nitin Nabin, Cites Amit Shah Example: Kishor is seeking to win the seat that had elected Nitin Nabin five consecutive times, most recently in last year’s Assembly elections. Speaking to PTI Video, Kishor acknowledged that the BJP considers Bankipur a stronghold but criticised Nabin for vacating the seat soon after the election. “Yes, I know that the BJP considers Bankipur as its stronghold. Voters here have repeatedly reposed their trust in Nitin Nabin. But Nitin Nabin took no time in forgetting them. He abandoned the seat at the first opportunity to enter Parliament," Kishor said. He also dismissed the BJP’s argument that Nabin had to resign from the Assembly after becoming the party’s national president. Drawing a comparison with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Kishor said Shah continued as a Gujarat MLA even after becoming BJP president.