JJD chief Tej Pratap Yadav extends support to Prashant Kishor in Bankipur Bypolls
Patna, July 25
Ahead of the Bankipur Assembly by-election, Janashakti Janata Dal president Tej Pratap Yadav on Friday announced his support for Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, asserting that the "right candidate" should emerge victorious in the upcoming poll.
Speaking to reporters, Yadav said, "It started raining the moment we announced our support to Prashant Kishor... In Bankipur, the right candidate should win."
Kishor aims to break the BJP's winning streak in the constituency. However, Kishor faces a tough battle ahead. Choosing to contest a long-time BJP bastion, the JSP founder is looking to break over 15 years of the party winning the seat. Since 2010, the seat has been represented by Nitin Nabin.
In another political move, Tej Pratap also reached out to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate, Rekha Gupta, seeking her cooperation for their supported front.
"The RJD also has a candidate there, Rekha Gupta; we want her to support us as well," he added.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has stepped up its outreach in the constituency. Singer and BJP MLC Pawan Singh was seen campaigning for the party's candidate, Neeraj Kumar Sinha, whom he described as a brother.
"I have come to my home. I have come for my brother. I will go and request my family to bless my brother Neeraj. Blessings are pouring in," Pawan Singh stated during his visit.
In Bihar, the by-election will be held for the 182-Bankipur Assembly constituency.
The Bankipur Assembly by-election was necessitated due to the resignation of now Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Nabin from the Bihar Legislative Assembly after he was elected to the Rajya Sabha in March.
BJP announced Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election, replacing Abhishek Kumar Sinha, who withdrew from the contest citing family reasons.
On July 2, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for bypolls to three Assembly Constituencies in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, which includes the high-profile seats of Bankipur, Datia, and Manjalpur.
The last date for filing nominations was fixed as July 13 (Monday), with the scrutiny of the nomination papers scheduled to take place on July 14 (Tuesday).
Candidates will have until July 16 (Thursday) to withdraw their candidatures. The polling for the three assembly seats in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat will be conducted on July 30 (Thursday), while the counting of votes is slated for August 3 (Monday).
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's interesting how Tej Pratap Yadav reaches out to RJD candidate Rekha Gupta for cooperation, even after leaving the party. This shows how fluid Bihar politics can be. However, PK's focus on breaking the BJP's 15-year streak in Bankipur is commendable. The people deserve a fresh choice! 🌟
Pawan Singh coming to campaign for BJP's Neeraj Kumar Sinha — that's the entertainment factor sorted for this bypoll! 😅 But seriously, Bihar needs leaders who will focus on education and jobs, not just political gimmicks. Hope the voters in Bankipur make an informed decision.
Watching this from the US, Indian state elections always fascinate me. Prashant Kishor is a political strategist turned candidate — that's a rare transition. It'll be interesting to see if his analytical approach can actually win a seat against established party machines. Best of luck to all candidates! 🤞
Tej Pratap Yadav supporting Prashant Kishor — this is a major shift in Bihar's political dynamics. But let's be honest: Bankipur has been a BJP fortress for 15 years. PK will need more than just support from JJD to make a dent. The real question is: can he bring actual development to the constituency?
At least someone is trying to break the monopoly! 🙌 I've lived in Patna for years, and Bankipur has seen little change despite the same party winning repeatedly. Whether it's PK or someone else, we need fresh ideas. And Tej
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