Bankipur bypoll: BJP's Abhishek Kumar is NDA's joint candidate, confirms JD-U's Sanjay Jha
Synopsis
With the Bankipur Assembly by-election approaching, the NDA is projecting a five-party united front behind BJP candidate Abhishek Kumar — while JD-U's Sanjay Jha publicly questioned whether the Opposition INDIA bloc even has a common candidate, and took a pointed swipe at Tejashwi Yadav's absence from the campaign trail.
Key Takeaways
BJP candidate Abhishek Kumar has been declared the NDA's common candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election in Bihar .
JD-U National Working President Sanjay Jha confirmed all five NDA alliance partners are backing the BJP nominee.
Abhishek Kumar met former Chief Minister and JD-U President Nitish Kumar , who extended his blessings to the candidate.
Sanjay Jha questioned the Congress party's role in the bypoll and alleged Rahul Gandhi has little connect with Bihar .
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's foreign visit was cited by Jha as evidence of Opposition disengagement from the contest.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Abhishek Kumar has been declared the common candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the Bankipur Assembly by-election in Bihar, with all five alliance partners pledging full support ahead of the contest. The announcement was made in Patna on Thursday, 9 July by Janata Dal-United (JD-U) National Working President Sanjay Jha, who underlined that there was no ambiguity within the coalition over the candidature.
NDA Projects a United Front
Sanjay Jha, addressing reporters in Patna, stated that leaders and workers from every NDA constituent party would participate in Abhishek Kumar's nomination programme and the subsequent campaign. He added that senior alliance leaders would attend the public meeting following the filing of nomination papers, and the entire election campaign would be conducted jointly.
Jha also confirmed that Abhishek Kumar had recently met JD-U President and former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who extended his blessings and best wishes to the BJP nominee. The JD-U leader further asserted that the state government was functioning cohesively under Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
JD-U Takes Aim at the Opposition
Turning his attention to the rival camp, Sanjay Jha questioned the Indian National Congress (Congress) party's role in the Bankipur by-election and trained his criticism on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He alleged that Gandhi had little connection with Bihar and claimed that the Congress leadership was not focused on the state's concerns.
Jha also challenged the cohesion of the Opposition INDIA bloc, asking which candidate the Congress was backing in Bankipur and whether the alliance remained intact. He claimed that while the Opposition grouping had fragmented, the NDA was contesting with full unity and coordination.
Tejashwi Yadav's Absence Draws Comment
Responding to a query about Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav's ongoing foreign visit, Jha remarked pointedly that while Tejashwi Yadav would eventually return from abroad, the NDA had already launched its campaign in full strength. The RJD has fielded its own candidate for the seat, with polling still some time away.
What the Bankipur By-Election Signals
The Bankipur Assembly by-election has taken on significance beyond the vacancy itself, emerging as a test of organisational strength for both the NDA and the Opposition ahead of broader electoral cycles in Bihar. Notably, the NDA's coordinated show of unity — spanning five constituent parties — is designed to contrast with what the alliance portrays as a fractured Opposition. The outcome will be closely watched as a gauge of ground-level sentiment in one of Bihar's most politically competitive urban constituencies.
Point of View
It hands the NDA a narrative advantage well beyond Bihar. Tejashwi Yadav's absence from the early campaign, however brief, gives rivals exactly the kind of optics they need. The real test is whether NDA's organisational unity on the ground matches the unity on display at press conferences.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the NDA's candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election?
The NDA's common candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election is BJP's Abhishek Kumar. JD-U National Working President Sanjay Jha confirmed on 9 July that all five NDA alliance partners are backing him.
What did Sanjay Jha say about NDA unity in the Bankipur bypoll?
Sanjay Jha stated that there was no ambiguity within the NDA over the candidature of Abhishek Kumar and that leaders and workers from every constituent party would participate in the nomination programme and campaign activities jointly.
Why did Sanjay Jha criticise Rahul Gandhi over the Bankipur bypoll?
Jha alleged that Rahul Gandhi had little connection with Bihar and that the Congress leadership was not focused on the state's concerns. He also questioned which candidate the Congress was supporting in Bankipur, suggesting the INDIA bloc lacked unity.
What is the significance of the Bankipur Assembly by-election?
The Bankipur bypoll has emerged as a test of organisational strength for both the NDA and the Opposition in Bihar, going beyond the immediate vacancy. It is being watched as an indicator of ground-level political sentiment in one of Bihar's competitive urban constituencies.
What was Sanjay Jha's comment on Tejashwi Yadav's foreign visit?
Jha remarked that while RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav would eventually return from abroad, the NDA had already launched its campaign in full strength. The RJD has fielded its own candidate for the Bankipur seat.
