Prashant Kishor, founder of Jan Suraaj Party, has termed the BJP’s last-minute candidate change for the Bankipur Assembly bypoll in Bihar as unprecedented. The ruling party replaced Abhishek Kumar Sinha with Neeraj Kumar Sinha after the former withdrew, citing family reasons.
BJP’s Candidate Withdrawal in Bankipur Bypoll
The Bankipur by-election, scheduled for July 30, was triggered after BJP national president Nitin Nabin vacated the seat following his Rajya Sabha election. Nabin had won the constituency five consecutive times, establishing it as a BJP stronghold.
Abhishek Kumar Sinha, also known as Bunty, filed his nomination before abruptly pulling out a day later. The BJP then named Neeraj Kumar Sinha, a youth wing leader, as its new candidate. Neeraj met Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Saturday and is expected to file his papers on Monday.
Prashant Kishor’s Reaction to the Candidate Swap
Kishor, who is contesting the bypoll, stated that candidates from rival parties often withdraw due to BJP pressure. He noted this was the first instance of a BJP candidate stepping back, calling it a sign of shifting political dynamics.
“The message is clear: people want change and are finding their voice,” Kishor said. He added that the BJP’s move reflected a lack of strong candidates and claimed the party was “jittery at the prospects of a defeat” in its own bastion.
Broader Implications for Bihar Politics
Kishor also commented on Bihar’s leadership, stating that Samrat Choudhary’s conduct and public image made him an unsuitable chief ministerial candidate. He emphasized that leadership should be based on capability, not community.
Voting for the Bankipur bypoll will take place on July 30, with results to be declared on August 3.
