Bankipur bypoll: 11.50 pc voter turnout recorded till 11 am; key leaders cast their votes
Patna, July 30
Polling for the high-profile Bankipur Assembly by-election in Patna district has been progressing peacefully since 7 a.m. on Thursday, with voters turning out steadily at polling stations across the constituency. According to the Election Commission, 11.50 per cent voter turnout was recorded by 11 a.m., and officials expect the polling percentage to increase as the day advances.
The by-election is being closely watched in Bihar's political circles, with a three-cornered contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Jan Suraaj.
The BJP has fielded Neeraj Kumar Sinha, while the RJD has nominated Rekha Gupta. Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor is contesting the election himself, making the contest a politically significant test for all three parties.
Political observers view the by-election as an important challenge for the BJP to retain a constituency long regarded as one of its strongholds, while for Prashant Kishor, the outcome is being seen as a key test of his political standing.
After casting his vote, Bihar minister Ramkripal Yadav said he had voted for NDA candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha on the BJP's Lotus symbol.
Addressing reporters, Yadav described the lotus as a symbol of Goddess Lakshmi and expressed confidence in the NDA candidate's prospects.
He also criticised Prashant Kishor, questioning his local connection with the Bankipur constituency, while describing former BJP MLA Nitin Nabin as a son of the soil.
According to Yadav, voters prefer a local representative and are extending strong support to Neeraj Kumar Sinha.
Senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament Ravi Shankar Prasad also cast his vote in Bankipur and said he had been voting at the same polling booth for the past two decades.
He expressed satisfaction after voting for the BJP-NDA candidate and said the people of Bankipur have maintained a longstanding association with the BJP.
Referring to development initiatives undertaken by the governments led by former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, CM Samrat Choudhary, BJP chief Nitin Nabin, and during his own tenure as an MP, Prasad said voters were supporting the continuation of development in the constituency.
Polling is continuing under extensive security arrangements, and election authorities expect voter participation to increase throughout the day.
The votes will be counted on August 3, when the winner of the Bankipur Assembly by-election will be declared.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As an outsider living in Bihar, I find these by-elections fascinating. The Ramkripal Yadav comments about 'lotus symbol being Goddess Lakshmi' are pretty sharp—using religious symbolism to connect with voters. Smart politics. But we all know the real test is Prashant Kishor's ground game against established parties. Counting day on August 3 will be a thriller.
Bankipur has always been a BJP stronghold, no doubt. But this time with three-cornered contest, voter turnout is key. 11.50% by 11 am seems low for such a high-profile seat. Maybe people are waiting for cooler hours? Also, Prashant Kishor contesting himself is a bold move—he better have some local connect or it's going to be an embarrassment.
Ramkripal Yadav's dig at Prashant Kishor about not being a 'local' is a classic Bihar politics move. 😄 But honestly, if voters only cared about 'sons of the soil', then how did so many outsiders become MPs? Development should be the real issue, not just birthplace. Let's see if Bankipur voters think beyond symbolism.
Good to see Ravi Shankar Prasad casting his vote at the same booth for 20 years—that's consistency. But the real question is: can the BJP retain Bankipur without Nitin Nabin as the candidate? Neeraj Kumar Sinha has big shoes to fill. Prashant Kishor is a wildcard. I'm voting for development over any party's symbol.
S Sarah B I'm not We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.