Bankipur bypoll is referendum on Samrat Choudhary, BJP is arrogant: Prashant Kishor
Jan Suraaj founder and Bankipur Assembly bypoll candidate Prashant Kishor said the upcoming by-election is not merely about electing an MLA but a referendum on
Jan Suraaj founder and Bankipur Assembly bypoll candidate Prashant Kishor said the upcoming by-election is not merely about electing an MLA but a referendum on Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary's leadership. He urged voters to use the election to send a message to the BJP over its choice of leadership in the state. Speaking in an interview with Bihar Tak, Kishor said he had decided not to contest the 2025 Bihar Assembly election because he wanted to focus on campaigning for as many Jan Suraaj candidates as possible. He acknowledged that the party managed to secure only around 18 lakh votes in the election but said the result had not weakened its resolve to continue working for political change in Bihar. Read Full Story Explaining why he chose to contest the Bankipur bypoll, Kishor said the election carries significance beyond the constituency. He argued that the BJP formed the government in Bihar in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar but later made Samrat Choudhary the Chief Minister. According to Kishor, the bypoll gives voters their first opportunity to express whether they support that decision. He appealed to those unhappy with Choudhary's elevation to vote against the BJP. Kishor also accused the BJP of displaying political arrogance. He claimed BJP leaders had publicly said they could field "even a dog or a cat" from Bankipur and still win because the constituency remained a BJP stronghold. He also criticised what he described as the use of religious symbolism in politics, referring to BJP events where Hanuman imagery was used. He said many people wanted him to contest to challenge what he called the party's political arrogance.
He further claimed that the NDA believes it will continue winning Bihar regardless of governance because it receives votes on the basis of caste, religion, Prime Minister Modi's popularity, or fear of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Kishor said Jan Suraaj had initially created concern among established parties about political change in Bihar, but that concern faded after the Assembly election results. He said the Bankipur bypoll offers an opportunity to revive that challenge. Addressing criticism that he selected a difficult constituency instead of an easier seat, Kishor said he deliberately chose Bankipur because he considers its voters among the most educated and politically aware in Bihar. He said if such voters still support the BJP despite their concerns over leadership, it would reflect their own political choice. He also argued that the BJP has benefited in the constituency because many voters do not want to support the RJD, leaving them without an alternative. During the interview, Kishor was questioned about the affidavit he filed with his nomination papers, where he listed his profession as a political consultant and adviser. He replied that he declared the same profession because it matches his income tax filings. He said changing the description in the affidavit would have created inconsistencies with his tax records. Responding to questions about his declared assets and the valuation of Vedas Venture, a company whose shares account for a major portion of his declared wealth, Kishor defended the disclosures. He said the company has donated 90 crore to Jan Suraaj and that its remaining value reflects its net worth after taxes. He added that the company belongs to members of his family, not to him personally, although it was created on his advice.
The BriefWire