In Bankipur, the BJP stronghold, Jan Suraaj had fielded Vandana Kumari against BJP's Nitin Nabin, but she secured fewer than 10,000 votes.

However, just nine months later, the political situation has changed dramatically.

Prashant Kishor Set to Create History in Bankipur

After Nitin Nabin resigned, a bypoll was held for the Bankipur Assembly seat. Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor entered the contest and is now on course for a historic victory.

Bankipur has been a BJP bastion since 1995, but the party now faces a major challenge. In the 2025 Assembly election, BJP had won the seat with over 98,000 votes, but in the bypoll, BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar has fallen behind Prashant Kishor.

What Changed Between the Assembly Election and the Bypoll?

One key difference is that Prashant Kishor himself did not contest the 2025 Assembly elections. In the bypoll, he became the face of the campaign.

Former Jan Suraaj candidate Vandana Kumari said the bypoll was about choosing a local MLA, not a chief minister. According to her, many voters in 2025 feared that voting for Jan Suraaj could help the RJD win. This time, voters viewed the election differently.

Did Nitish Kumar's Exit Influence the Result?

Bihar's political landscape has changed significantly since the 2025 Assembly elections. Those elections were fought under Nitish Kumar's leadership, and he returned as Chief Minister even though the BJP won more seats.

Since then, Nitish Kumar has moved to the Rajya Sabha, and Samrat Choudhary has become the Chief Minister. Political observers believe Nitish's departure from the top post may have influenced voter sentiment in the bypoll.

Why Is Prashant Kishor's Victory Important?

After the 2025 election defeat, many questioned whether Prashant Kishor could succeed as a politician despite his reputation as an election strategist.

A victory in Bankipur would give Jan Suraaj a fresh start and its first strong voice in the Bihar Assembly. As an MLA, Prashant Kishor is also expected to strengthen the party's presence and connect more directly with voters.

Does This Mean BJP Is Weakening in Bihar?

The loss of Bankipur would be a setback for the BJP, but political experts say it is too early to conclude that the party is losing strength across Bihar.

Senior journalist Pradeep Singh compared the result to the 2018 Gorakhpur Lok Sabha bypoll, where the BJP lost a seat but regained it with a huge margin in the 2019 general election. He said bypoll results should not be seen as a clear indicator of the outcome of future Assembly elections.