Bankipur bypoll 2025: NDA confident of Neeraj Sinha win as counting begins
Synopsis
The Bankipur bypoll has turned into Bihar's most-watched seat of the season — not because of the NDA, but because of Prashant Kishor. The poll strategist who once engineered victories for others is now in the arena himself, leading after round one. Whether his early advantage holds against the NDA's organisational muscle and 20-year incumbency record will define the credibility of his political pivot.
Key Takeaways
Counting for the Bankipur Assembly bye-election began on 3 August at AN College, Patna .
Jan Suraaj Party 's Prashant Kishor led after round one with 2,225 votes , ahead of BJP's Neeraj Kumar Sinha (1,363 votes) and RJD's Rekha Kumari (505 votes).
JD-U spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan expressed confidence in an NDA victory 'by a historic margin.' Bihar Minister Shrawon Kumar urged patience, noting the NDA had trailed in early rounds before and still won.
Voter turnout on 30 July polling day stood at 34.30 per cent .
The final result is expected to be declared on Monday, 3 August .
Counting of votes for the Bankipur Assembly bye-election began on Monday, 3 August at AN College in Patna, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) expressing strong confidence that its candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha would win by a decisive margin. The bypoll has emerged as a closely watched three-way contest, with Jan Suraaj Party candidate Prashant Kishor drawing early attention.
NDA's Confidence Going Into Counting
Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) National Spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan asserted that the result would reflect the development work carried out in the constituency. 'The BJP-led NDA candidate Neeraj Sinha is certain to win by a historic margin. Whether it is Prashant Kishor or any other candidate contesting the election, all political campaigning and rhetoric are now over. They should wait for the results. We believe that whenever people vote on the basis of development, the NDA benefits from it,' Ranjan said.
Ranjan credited Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for transforming Bankipur into a prominent part of the state capital, also acknowledging Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary for his contributions to the constituency's growth.
Bihar Minister Urges Patience on Early Trends
Bihar Minister Shrawon Kumar cautioned against reading too much into the first round of counting. 'We have also been trailing in the first round of elections on several occasions. We ourselves have been behind in the initial rounds many times, but the final results have gone in our favour. So, the trends of the first round are not the final trends,' he said, adding that the NDA had 'full faith and confidence' that voters would reward 20 years of service and development.
Early Round: Prashant Kishor Leads
In the first round of counting, Jan Suraaj Party candidate Prashant Kishor established an early lead with 2,225 votes, holding an advantage of 862 votes over his nearest rival. BJP's Neeraj Kumar Sinha stood second with 1,363 votes, while Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)'s Rekha Kumari was third with 505 votes. Tanveer Alam of the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party was fourth with 203 votes. Counting was still ongoing and early trends were not considered indicative of the final outcome.
Background: Voter Turnout and Contest
Voting for the Bankipur constituency was held on 30 July, recording a voter turnout of 34.30 per cent — a relatively modest figure for a high-profile bypoll. The seat has drawn national attention largely due to the entry of Prashant Kishor, the poll strategist-turned-politician, whose Jan Suraaj Party is contesting under his direct leadership. The final result is expected to be declared later on Monday.
Point of View
But the context makes it less routine than usual. Prashant Kishor's early lead — however preliminary — signals that his Jan Suraaj Party has genuine ground presence in what is a BJP-held constituency in the heart of Patna. A voter turnout of just 34.30 per cent complicates any reading: low turnout in urban seats often favours organised parties, but it can equally reflect anti-incumbency abstention. If Kishor holds on, it will be the most significant personal validation of his political reinvention. If the NDA recovers, it confirms that Bihar's development narrative, however contested, still converts in its strongholds.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bankipur bypoll and why is it significant?
The Bankipur Assembly bye-election is a seat in Patna, Bihar, that fell vacant and went to a by-vote on 30 July 2025. It has drawn national attention as a three-way contest between the BJP-led NDA, the RJD, and poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party.
Who is leading after the first round of Bankipur counting?
Jan Suraaj Party candidate Prashant Kishor led after round one with 2,225 votes, ahead of BJP's Neeraj Kumar Sinha (1,363 votes) and RJD's Rekha Kumari (505 votes). Counting was still ongoing and early trends were not considered final.
What did the NDA say about its prospects in Bankipur?
JD-U National Spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan said NDA candidate Neeraj Sinha was 'certain to win by a historic margin,' citing development work under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Bihar Minister Shrawon Kumar added that the NDA had trailed in early rounds before and still won final results.
What was the voter turnout in the Bankipur bypoll?
Voter turnout in the Bankipur Assembly bye-election, held on 30 July, was recorded at 34.30 per cent — a relatively low figure for a high-profile constituency in the state capital.
Where is the Bankipur bypoll counting taking place?
Counting of votes for the Bankipur bye-election is being conducted at AN College in Patna, with the final result expected to be declared on Monday, 3 August.
