"Will not be difficult for Jan Suraaj at all": Prashant Kishor backs party to win Bankipur bypolls, conquering BJP bastion
Patna, May 27
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Wednesday expressed confidence in his party winning the Bankipur seat in the bye-elections, opening its account in Bihar, after BJP President Nitin Nabin vacated the seat and moved to the Rajya Sabha in March this year.
Speaking to ANI, Prashant Kishor acknowledged that the seat has been a BJP bastion and said that Jan Suraaj will contest with "full force."
Kishor said, "It will not be difficult for Jan Suraaj at all. Jan Suraaj has resolved that Bankipur, which has served as a BJP stronghold for the past 40 years, and currently happens to be the seat held by the BJP's National President, will be contested by Jan Suraaj with full force, and every effort will be made to ensure that they are defeated there."
He added that the Jan Suraaj will carry a door-to-door campaign, intensifying the public outreach.
"It is not a question of who the candidate will be. It has been decided that the party will go door-to-door, intensifying the public outreach campaign over the coming month, seeking the opinions of the people, and doing whatever it takes to ensure the BJP is defeated there," he added.
Nitin Nabin had resigned from the Bankipur seat, from where he won four consecutive times, as he was elected as the National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and moved to the Rajya Sabha after winning a seat in the biennial polls.
In the last elections in 2025, Nitin Nabin defeated Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)'s Rekha Kumari by a margin of 51,936 (33.4 per cent) votes.
Jan Suraaj's Vandana Kumari was placed third, winning just 7,717 votes.
In the 2025 elections, Jan Suraaj faced a debacle in its electoral debut, after not being able to open an account in the seats tally.
The ruling NDA swept the polls, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party with 89 seats, and the Janata Dal (United) finishing a close second with 85.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Prashant Kishor is a master campaigner, no doubt. But Jan Suraaj got 7,717 votes last time—that's less than 5%. To go from there to victory in a bypoll is a pipe dream unless there's a massive anti-incumbency wave against the BJP which I don't see right now. Still, I appreciate the optimism. Bihar needs fresh voices, and at least someone is trying. 🤷♀️
"Will not be difficult at all"—yaar, PK is speaking like a true politician now. Bankipur has been with BJP since forever. Nitin Nabin won by over 50,000 votes last time. Jan Suraaj needs to first become a credible alternative, not just talk big. But if they actually manage to defeat the BJP president on his home turf, that would be the biggest upset in Bihar politics since Lalu's fall. 🤞
Here's the thing: PK's strength has always been data-driven campaigns and connecting with voters on the ground. Door-to-door in Bankipur for a month could actually work if he highlights local issues like unemployment and infrastructure. The BJP might take this seat for granted since it's their president's seat. But let's be real—overcoming a 33% margin is like climbing Everest in chappals. 😅
I'm from Patna and Bankipur is a very educated, upper-middle-class constituency. They vote for development and stability. BJP has delivered that. Jan Suraaj's appeal is more to the rural and lower-income voters. So I don't see how they crack this nut. But PK is a genius strategist—if anyone can find a loophole, it's him. Just don't oversell it, bhai. 😤
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