BJP files EC complaint against Prashant Kishor over Bankipur poll spending
Synopsis
The BJP has escalated its campaign against Prashant Kishor by filing an Election Commission complaint alleging he routed crores through a ₹5 lakh shell company to mask campaign spending that reportedly dwarfs the ₹40 lakh legal limit. With polling just days away on 30 July, the move puts the ECI under pressure to act — and Kishor's silence so far only sharpens the spotlight.
Key Takeaways
BJP filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India on 21 July against Prashant Kishor , Jan Suraj Party candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election .
The party alleges Kishor spent several crores, far exceeding the ₹40 lakh campaign expenditure ceiling set by the ECI.
Expenses were allegedly routed through a company with a paid-up capital of only ₹5 lakh , incorporated in October 2023 , which reportedly received ₹4.5 crore before the election.
BJP also alleged thousands of fake social media accounts — some operated from outside India — are being used to run an influence operation targeting BJP leaders.
Prashant Kishor and the Jan Suraj Party have not issued any official response to the allegations.
Polling is on 30 July ; vote counting is scheduled for 3 August .
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Prashant Kishor, the Jan Suraj Party candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election, alleging systematic violations of campaign expenditure norms ahead of the 30 July polling date. The complaint, submitted on Tuesday, 21 July from the BJP's state headquarters in Patna, demands a probe into the candidate's financial dealings and alleged use of artificial campaign methods.
Key Allegations
At a press conference in Patna, Bihar Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari, BJP National Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain, and BJP MLA Jivesh Mishra jointly alleged that Kishor has spent several crores of rupees on his campaign — far exceeding the ₹40 lakh per-candidate expenditure ceiling set by the Election Commission.
The BJP further alleged that these expenses were not recorded directly in the candidate's official election account. Instead, they were reportedly routed through a third-party or dummy company, effectively concealing the actual scale of campaign spending.
The Shell Company Claim
Hussain alleged that the company under scrutiny had a paid-up capital of just ₹5 lakh and was incorporated as recently as October 2023. He questioned how such a firm allegedly received ₹4.5 crore in transactions in the period leading up to the election. The BJP has characterised the arrangement as a possible case of money laundering and has demanded that the ECI investigate all bank transactions linked to the company and the Jan Suraj Party's campaign finances.
Fake Accounts and Online Influence Operations
Beyond the financial allegations, the BJP also accused Kishor's campaign of running a large-scale online influence operation. According to the party, thousands of fake social media accounts — several allegedly operated from outside India — are purportedly spreading misinformation and posting content targeting BJP leaders. The complaint to the ECI includes this allegation alongside the expenditure violations.
'We have submitted a written complaint, along with supporting evidence, to the Election Commission and requested an investigation into the bank transactions of the Jan Suraj Party, the financial dealings of its associated consultancy firm, alleged violations of election expenditure rules, and the alleged use of money power and artificial campaign methods to influence voters,' Hussain said.
No Response from Kishor Camp
As of the time of reporting, Prashant Kishor and the Jan Suraj Party had not issued any official response to the allegations. The silence leaves the BJP's claims uncontested in the public domain for now, though the ECI has not yet announced whether it will take up the complaint for formal inquiry.
What's at Stake in Bankipur
The Bankipur Assembly by-election is shaping up as a closely watched three-cornered contest. The principal candidates are Neeraj Kumar Sinha of the BJP, Prashant Kishor of the Jan Suraj Party, and Rekha Gupta of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Polling is scheduled for 30 July, with vote counting on 3 August. With Kishor's entry as a candidate — rather than a behind-the-scenes strategist — the contest has drawn national attention well beyond its constituency boundaries.
Point of View
It is designed to put Kishor on the defensive and signal to voters that his campaign is operating outside the rules. The shell-company allegation, if substantiated, would be damaging; but the ECI's track record of acting on expenditure complaints within election windows is patchy at best. Kishor's decision to contest rather than consult has already made Bankipur a referendum on his personal brand, and allegations of financial irregularity — however unverified — complicate that narrative. The more telling detail is the fake-accounts charge: if foreign-operated accounts are genuinely involved, it raises questions that go beyond one by-election.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BJP's complaint against Prashant Kishor in the Bankipur by-election?
The BJP has filed a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that Prashant Kishor, the Jan Suraj Party candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election, spent several crores of rupees on his campaign — far exceeding the ₹40 lakh legal limit. The party also alleges that spending was concealed by routing funds through a third-party company with a paid-up capital of just ₹5 lakh.
What is the election expenditure limit for the Bankipur by-election?
The Election Commission of India has set a maximum campaign expenditure limit of ₹40 lakh per candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election. The BJP alleges Prashant Kishor has already spent several crores, vastly exceeding this ceiling.
What is the shell company allegation against Prashant Kishor?
BJP National Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain alleged that a company with a paid-up capital of only ₹5 lakh, incorporated in October 2023, reportedly received ₹4.5 crore linked to the Jan Suraj Party's campaign. The BJP has called this a possible case of money laundering and demanded a probe into the firm's bank transactions.
When is the Bankipur Assembly by-election?
Polling for the Bankipur Assembly by-election is scheduled for 30 July, with vote counting on 3 August. The principal candidates are Neeraj Kumar Sinha of the BJP, Prashant Kishor of the Jan Suraj Party, and Rekha Gupta of the RJD.
Has Prashant Kishor responded to the BJP's allegations?
As of 21 July, Prashant Kishor and the Jan Suraj Party had not issued any official response to the BJP's allegations of election expenditure violations, shell company routing, or the use of fake social media accounts.
