Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), is contesting the Bankipur Assembly by-election in Patna, Bihar, as a referendum on the BJP government [1, 2].
The contest serves as a critical test for the BJP-led state government following what Kishor describes as a humiliating performance by the party in the 2025 Bihar assembly election [1, 2]. By targeting a seat the BJP has held for 20 years [4], Kishor aims to prove that his party can dismantle established political strongholds.
Kishor said the by-poll is a referendum on the BJP government in Bihar [2]. He has positioned the Jan Suraaj Party, which was formed two years ago [3], as a viable alternative to the traditional power structures in the region.
Bankipur has historically been a BJP bastion, with the party securing the seat for two decades with large margins [4]. Kishor said the BJP's candidate swap in Bankipur is unprecedented in Bihar politics [5]. He said the JSP will give the BJP a tough fight in the constituency [1].
The Election Commission scheduled the by-poll for May 28, 2024 [2, 4]. While some reports suggest Kishor received 19,324 votes in the contest [6], other primary sources indicate the election process and results remain pending [2].
Kishor's strategy relies on capitalizing on local dissatisfaction to create a pivot moment for the JSP. The outcome in Bankipur is expected to signal whether the party's grassroots mobilization can translate into legislative victories across Bihar.
“This by‑poll is a referendum on the BJP government in Bihar.”
The Bankipur by-election represents a strategic attempt by Prashant Kishor to transition from a political strategist to a legislator. If the Jan Suraaj Party can make significant inroads into a 20-year BJP stronghold, it suggests a shift in Bihar's political alignment and a potential decline in the BJP's regional dominance ahead of future state cycles.
