PK Breaks BJP's Bankipur Fortress, Signalling New Political Chapter
By Kunal Catterjee
Prashant Kishor, the election strategist turned politician and founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, has achieved what many believed was impossible by winning the Bankipur Assembly by-election in Bihar. His decisive victory over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a constituency the party had held continuously since 1995 has sent shockwaves through the state's political establishment and raised fresh questions about the BJP's dominance ahead of future elections.
The Bankipur seat became vacant after BJP leader Nitin Navin resigned following his nomination to the Rajya Sabha. The BJP fielded Neeraj Kumar Sinha to retain the prestigious constituency, while Kishor made his own electoral debut by contesting the seat himself. From the outset, the contest attracted national attention because Bankipur had long been regarded as one of the BJP's safest seats.
As counting progressed, Kishor maintained a consistent lead over the BJP candidate before eventually winning by more than 20,000 votes. Earlier in the day, he had already established a lead of nearly 16,000 votes, with his margin widening in every round of counting. Supporters of the Jan Suraaj Party celebrated on the streets with victory processions, sweets and coloured powder, while political observers described the result as one of the most significant upsets in Bihar in recent years.
Speaking after his victory, Kishor declared, "A 30-year-old fortress has crumbled in just 30 days." He argued that the result reflected a growing desire among voters for a politics centred on development rather than caste identity.
"It fell because the people of Bihar now want a government that rises above caste politics and the distribution of four or five kilograms of free rations to work towards education and employment for their children," he said.
The victory is particularly significant because it marks the first electoral success for Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party after its disappointing performance in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, where it contested 238 of the state's 243 seats but failed to win a single constituency. Rather than remaining behind the scenes as a political consultant, Kishor chose to test his own popularity in one of the BJP's strongest constituencies—and emerged victorious.
Political analysts believe several factors contributed to the result. The first was Kishor's own public image. Having advised numerous successful election campaigns across India, he entered the race with considerable recognition and projected himself as a credible alternative to the established parties.
Secondly, there appeared to be clear anti-incumbency sentiment in Bankipur. Kishor repeatedly criticised what he described as the BJP's confidence that the constituency was permanently under its control.
"It is the common people who build a fortress, not any political party," he said during the campaign.
Instead of focusing on caste equations, Kishor consistently centred his campaign on education, employment, corruption and better public services. He portrayed the by-election as a referendum on the performance of Bihar's leadership rather than merely a contest for one Assembly seat.
"Our fight is not against any individual," he said after the result. "The BJP has the majority, and the NDA will form the government. We have only one request. The people of Bihar urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to appoint a competent and honest person as the Chief Minister of Bihar."
He added that Bihar deserved leadership capable of transforming the state's future. He said, "People should feel proud to be Bihari, and our children should have access to quality education and employment."
Kishor also warned that governments ignoring these priorities risk facing similar electoral defeats. "If they do not address these issues, they will continue to see similar electoral results," he said.
His comments included sharp criticism of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. "If a person with a criminal past is made the Chief Minister of Bihar, the state cannot progress," he remarked.
Another striking feature of the campaign was Kishor's decision to avoid large rallies. Instead, he held neighbourhood meetings, visited homes and interacted directly with residents. Supporters argue that this approach helped him establish a stronger connection with ordinary voters than conventional mass campaigning.
Analysts also suggest that voting patterns shifted across traditional political boundaries. Reports indicate that Kishor attracted support not only from sections of the BJP's traditional upper-caste base but also from sections of the Rashtriya Janata Dal's Muslim-Yadav support base. If accurate, such cross-community backing would represent an important departure from Bihar's long-standing caste-driven electoral politics.
The result was made even more embarrassing for the BJP by reports that Kishor secured leads at the polling booths of senior BJP figures, including former MLA Nitin Navin, party candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha and Union Minister Ram Kripal Singh. These booth-level outcomes have prompted questions about the party's local organisational strength in what was once considered an impregnable stronghold.
Following the declaration of the result, Kishor insisted that the victory belonged to the people rather than himself. "This victory is not mine alone; it belongs to the people of Bankipur—to those who desire change and development. A new chapter has begun in Bihar's politics," he said.
He further emphasised, "This is not merely an election to choose an MLA. It is an effort by the people of Bihar to send a message to the BJP's central leadership."
