Patna: Jan Suraaj Party candidate Prashant Kishor on Monday, August 3, widened his lead over BJP’s Neeraj Kumar Sinha to 6,011 votes in the Bankipur assembly by-election as the counting progressed in Bihar, officials said.
A celebratory mood was witnessed among Jan Suraaj Party supporters at its headquarters here.
While political strategist-turned-politician Kishor bagged 20,059 votes, Sinha got 14,048 votes, and RJD’s Rekha Gupta stood third with 3,983 votes after 10 rounds of counting. A total of 31 rounds of counting will be held.
The counting of votes for the bypoll began at 8 AM here on Monday, with all eyes on whether debutant Kishor wrests the seat from the BJP.
Bihar minister Shrawon Kumar said, “These are early trends. The picture will become clear after a few more rounds of counting. We are hopeful that the mandate will be in the NDA’s favour because we have worked for the development of people irrespective of caste, religion or creed.”
The by-election was necessitated following the resignation of BJP national president Nitin Nabin, who gave up the seat in April upon election to the Rajya Sabha. The BJP has fielded low-key youth wing leader Neeraj Kumar Sinha.
RJD’s Rekha Gupta, who lost to BJP’s Nitin Nabin in the 2025 assembly elections by a margin of over 50,000 votes, has been fielded again by her party.
BJP distributing laddoos
The bypoll, held on July 30, recorded a voter turnout of 34.30 per cent, down by more than seven per cent from the 41.45 per cent registered in the last assembly elections.
RJD working president Tejashwi Yadav visited Baba Harihar Nath Temple in Sonepur and offered prayers before the counting began.
Meanwhile, BJP party workers were seen ordering ‘laddoos’ at several sweet shops in Patna, asserting that Sinha’s victory was a forgone conclusion.
