Multi-cornered contest looms in Bihar's Bankipur as RJD asserts claim to seat
Patna, July 6
Political activity has intensified ahead of the by-election to the high-profile Bankipur Assembly constituency in Patna, with the nomination process formally commencing following the Election Commission's notification.
Amid the evolving political contest, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Monday made it clear that it intends to field its own candidate from the seat.
Addressing the media on Monday, RJD chief spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav said the party is fully prepared to contest the Bankipur bypoll. He pointed out that the RJD had previously contested the seat and secured around 50,000 votes, adding that the party's support base in the constituency has grown since then.
"The people of Bankipur have made up their minds to ensure an RJD victory. The party has already begun election preparations, and our workers are actively reaching out to voters. We are confident of receiving widespread public support," Yadav said.
Despite the RJD's announcement, uncertainty remains within the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) over seat-sharing, as the Congress has also expressed its desire to contest the Bankipur seat.
Discussions between the alliance partners are expected to determine which party will eventually field the joint opposition candidate.
The by-election is steadily evolving into a multi-cornered contest. Jan Suraaj has already declared its founder, Prashant Kishor, as its candidate, making this the first Assembly election of his political career.
Meanwhile, former minister Tej Pratap Yadav's party, Jan Shakti Janata Dal, has announced Veena Manvi as its nominee for the constituency. The BJP, which has held the Bankipur seat for several terms, is yet to announce its candidate.
The constituency fell vacant after former BJP MLA Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha.
According to the Election Commission's schedule, polling for the Bankipur Assembly by-election will be held on July 30, while the counting of votes is scheduled for August 3.
With multiple parties entering the fray and key candidates already announced, the Bankipur by-election is emerging as one of the most closely watched political contests in Bihar.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The Mahagathbandhan bickering over this seat is so predictable. 🙈 RJD gets around 50,000 votes and wants the seat, Congress also wants it—meanwhile BJP is sitting quietly with a laugh. If the opposition can't even sort seat-sharing, wahan kya sarkaar chalayenge?
As someone from Patna, I can tell you Bankipur is a strong BJP bastion. Nitin Nabin won comfortably. Even with multiple contestants, the BJP candidate will benefit from divided opposition votes. The RJD shouting about 50,000 votes is pure josh—in reality, they finished third last time.
Prashant Kishor has been talking about 'system change' and new politics. Let's see if his social engineering formula works in a real election. The problem is, in Bihar, caste equations still rule. Bankipur may be urban, but it's not immune. I'm skeptical but hopeful something fresh emerges.
Tej Pratap Yadav fielding Veena Manvi from his new party—this is pure dynasty politics being recycled. 🌀 RJD, Jan Shakti, Congress all from the same Yadav family ecosystem. Meanwhile Prashant Kishor at least brings a non-dynastic option. Bankipur voters should choose based on development, not just names.
This bypoll is a mini-clash of political styles: RJD's traditional caste mobilization vs PK's data-driven campaign vs BJP's welfarism. The July 30 vote will be interesting to watch. My only hope is that the campaign focuses
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