Bankipur bypoll: Abhishek Sinha vows full support for NDA after withdrawal
Synopsis
A 26-year BJP booth worker asked to stand down days after filing his nomination, a fodder-scam shadow, and Prashant Kishor making his electoral debut — the Bankipur bypoll on 30 July has more subplots than a typical Assembly contest. Abhishek Sinha's graceful public exit, complete with a reassuring meeting with the BJP national president, is the party's attempt to keep its cadre intact while pivoting to a cleaner candidacy.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Kumar Sinha 'Bunty' withdrew his nomination for the Bankipur Assembly by-election in Bihar on Friday , citing the need to protect his parents' honour over their links to the 1990s fodder scam .
BJP subsequently named Neeraj Sinha as its replacement candidate for the seat.
Sinha met BJP national president Nitin Nabin , who reportedly expressed full confidence in him and said there were 'no issues.' Prashant Kishor of Jan Suraaj and Rekha Gupta of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) are also in the race.
Voting for the Bankipur bypoll is on 30 July ; results will be declared on 3 August .
Sinha has served as a booth-level BJP worker for 26 consecutive years .
Abhishek Kumar Sinha, popularly known as 'Bunty', the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader who withdrew his nomination for the Bankipur Assembly by-election in Bihar, on Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment to the party, saying he would work tirelessly to secure a victory for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate.
Why Sinha Stepped Back
Sinha had filed his nomination papers for the Bankipur seat before announcing his withdrawal on Friday, citing the need 'to protect the honour of his parents,' who were named in Bihar's notorious 1990s fodder scam. He noted that he was only 12 years old at the time of the controversy and emphasised that his own record — spanning 26 consecutive years as a booth-level party worker — stands independent of those events.
What Sinha Said After Pulling Out
Speaking to reporters after withdrawing, Sinha described himself as a booth-level BJP worker at heart and said he fully endorses the decision taken by the party's top leadership. He pledged to reach out to voters across constituencies, urging them to back Neeraj Sinha — the party's replacement candidate — by a 'massive margin.'
'I have been serving the party for 26 years now, and whatever responsibility the party entrusts to me, I will fulfil it with complete dedication,' he said.
Meeting With BJP National President
Sinha also met BJP national president Nitin Nabin following the withdrawal, signalling there was no bitterness over the decision. According to Sinha, Nabin told him he had 'always worked hard and must continue to do so, and there are no issues whatsoever.' The meeting was widely read as the party's effort to publicly reassure a long-serving cadre who had been asked to step aside.
The Contest Taking Shape
The Bankipur seat has drawn a competitive field. Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj party, has filed his nomination, while Rekha Gupta is contesting on a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ticket. Voting is scheduled for 30 July, with results expected on 3 August. The by-election is being closely watched given the presence of Kishor, who is making his electoral debut in the constituency.
What Comes Next
With Sinha now campaigning for Neeraj Sinha, the NDA is banking on cadre mobilisation to consolidate its position in a seat it is keen to retain. The outcome on 3 August will also serve as an early indicator of Jan Suraaj's grassroots traction ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections due later this year.
Point of View
Accompanied by a high-profile reassurance meeting with the national president, is textbook damage control. More consequential, however, is Prashant Kishor's entry: if Jan Suraaj performs credibly in a constituency the BJP expected to hold comfortably, it will signal that Kishor's ground organisation is maturing faster than sceptics assumed — with direct implications for the Bihar Assembly elections ahead.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Abhishek Kumar Sinha withdraw from the Bankipur bypoll?
Abhishek Kumar Sinha withdrew his nomination, citing the need to protect the honour of his parents, who were named in Bihar's 1990s fodder scam. He clarified he was only 12 years old at the time and that his own 26-year record as a BJP worker is unrelated to that controversy.
Who is the BJP's candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election now?
Following Sinha's withdrawal, the BJP named Neeraj Sinha as its candidate for the Bankipur seat. Abhishek Sinha has pledged to campaign actively for Neeraj Sinha and work to secure a victory by a 'massive margin.'
Who else is contesting the Bankipur bypoll?
Prashant Kishor, founder of Jan Suraaj, has filed his nomination for the Bankipur seat, marking his electoral debut. Rekha Gupta is contesting on a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ticket.
When is the Bankipur bypoll voting and when will results be announced?
Voting for the Bankipur Assembly by-election is scheduled for 30 July, with results to be declared on 3 August.
What did BJP national president Nitin Nabin tell Abhishek Sinha after his withdrawal?
According to Sinha, BJP national president Nitin Nabin told him he had always worked hard and should continue to do so, adding that there were 'no issues whatsoever.' The meeting was seen as a public signal of the party's continued confidence in Sinha as a cadre leader.
