Bankipur bypoll 2025: Prashant Kishor leads after Round 1 counting
Synopsis
Prashant Kishor is ahead after Round 1 of Bankipur bypoll counting — a result that, if it holds, would mark a stunning debut for his Jan Suraaj Party against BJP and RJD in one of Bihar's most watched urban seats. With 29 rounds still to go, the contest is far from over, but the early numbers have upended the BJP's confident prediction of retaining a seat it vacated only because its own leader rose to national office.
Key Takeaways
Prashant Kishor (Jan Suraaj Party) leads after Round 1 with 2,225 votes , a margin of 862 votes over BJP's Neeraj Kumar Sinha (1,363 votes).
RJD candidate Rekha Kumari is third with 505 votes ; Tanveer Alam (RLJP) fourth with 203 votes .
Counting is underway at AN College, Patna across 30 rounds at 14 tables , covering 422 polling stations .
Voter turnout on 30 July polling day was 34.30 per cent .
The seat fell vacant after Nitin Nabin resigned as MLA on becoming BJP national president and a Rajya Sabha member.
More than 300 security personnel and drone surveillance are deployed around the counting centre.
Jan Suraaj Party candidate Prashant Kishor has taken an early lead in the Bankipur Assembly by-election counting, which is underway at AN College in Patna on Monday, 3 August. The result of this closely watched three-way contest is expected to be declared by end of day.
Round 1 Standings
After the first round of counting, Prashant Kishor held 2,225 votes, giving him a margin of 862 votes over his nearest rival. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha stood second with 1,363 votes, while Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Rekha Kumari was third with 505 votes. Tanveer Alam of the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party was fourth with 203 votes. Counting officials cautioned that early trends are not indicative of the final result.
How Counting Is Being Conducted
Counting began at 8 am at AN College, with postal ballots tallied first, followed by votes from Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Votes from 422 polling stations are being processed across 30 rounds at 14 tables. Security arrangements are extensive: more than 300 security personnel have been deployed, drone surveillance covers a 300-metre radius around the venue, and supporters and unauthorised individuals have been barred from the security zone. Several traffic diversions and road closures are also in place around AN College.
Why This By-Election Was Called
The Bankipur seat fell vacant after BJP leader Nitin Nabin resigned as MLA following his appointment as the party's national president and subsequent elevation to the Rajya Sabha. Voting was held on 30 July, recording a voter turnout of 34.30 per cent — a figure that analysts noted was relatively subdued for a high-profile urban constituency.
Political Reactions and Positioning
The BJP has publicly expressed confidence in retaining the seat, with party workers reportedly preparing around two quintals of laddoos in anticipation of a win. Meanwhile, RJD National Working President Tejashwi Yadav visited the Harihar Nath Temple on the first Monday of Sawan and offered prayers ahead of the result. After the puja, Yadav extended greetings to devotees undertaking the Kanwar Yatra and prayed for Bihar's prosperity. Following the 30 July polling, Yadav had expressed confidence that Rekha Gupta would win, claiming she had received cross-caste and cross-community support.
What to Watch
This by-election is being closely monitored as a test of Prashant Kishor's electoral credibility as a first-time candidate and the strength of his Jan Suraaj Party in urban Bihar. With 29 more rounds of counting to go, the final verdict will determine whether Kishor's grassroots campaign can translate early leads into an outright win against established party machinery. The result will also signal the BJP's hold over its urban Patna stronghold ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.
Point of View
But the symbolism is significant: Prashant Kishor, the election strategist turned politician, is outpacing both the BJP and RJD in a seat the BJP considered its own. If the lead holds, it will force a rethink about whether urban Bihar is as locked in as the major parties assumed. The 34.30 per cent turnout is the real story no one is telling — low urban participation historically benefits organised party machines, yet Kishor is ahead, suggesting his ground campaign may have activated a different voter slice. The BJP's laddoo preparations look premature; the RJD's third-place position looks like the bigger long-term problem for Tejashwi Yadav.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading in the Bankipur bypoll counting?
Jan Suraaj Party candidate Prashant Kishor is leading after the first round of counting with 2,225 votes, holding a margin of 862 votes over BJP's Neeraj Kumar Sinha. However, counting is still underway across 30 rounds and the final result has not been declared.
Why was the Bankipur Assembly by-election held?
The by-election was necessitated by the resignation of BJP MLA Nitin Nabin, who vacated the seat after being appointed the BJP's national president and elected to the Rajya Sabha. Voting was held on 30 July 2025.
What was the voter turnout in the Bankipur bypoll?
The Bankipur Assembly by-election recorded a voter turnout of 34.30 per cent on polling day, 30 July 2025. The relatively low turnout in this urban Patna constituency has been a point of discussion among political observers.
Who are the main candidates in the Bankipur bypoll?
The three principal candidates are Prashant Kishor of the Jan Suraaj Party, Neeraj Kumar Sinha of the BJP, and Rekha Kumari of the RJD. Tanveer Alam of the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party is also in the contest but placed fourth after Round 1.
When and where is the Bankipur bypoll result being declared?
The result is being declared on Monday, 3 August, with counting underway at AN College in Patna. Counting began at 8 am and is being conducted over 30 rounds across 14 tables, covering 422 polling stations.
