Bankipur bypoll: BJP's Abhishek Kumar Bunty withdraws candidature a day after filing nomination
Synopsis
The BJP's Bankipur bypoll campaign hit an unexpected snag on 10 July when its own candidate, Abhishek Kumar Bunty, quit the race just one day after a high-profile nomination filing — citing family reasons. With no replacement named yet and the RJD already in the field, the ruling alliance faces an awkward scramble in a seat that carries direct symbolic ties to the BJP's national president.
Key Takeaways
Abhishek Kumar Sinha (Bunty) , BJP's candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election , withdrew his candidature on 10 July , just one day after filing his nomination.
He cited family reasons and submitted a withdrawal letter to BJP Bihar State President Sanjay Saraogi .
His nomination on 9 July was filed in the presence of several senior NDA leaders as a show of party strength.
The Bankipur seat became vacant after BJP National President Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha .
The BJP has not yet announced a replacement candidate; the RJD and other parties remain in the contest.
Abhishek Kumar Sinha, alias Bunty, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Bankipur Assembly by-election, withdrew his candidature on 10 July — just 24 hours after filing his nomination papers. The sudden exit has thrown the ruling alliance's electoral planning into uncertainty and sparked fresh speculation over who the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will field in one of Bihar's most closely watched constituencies.
The Withdrawal and What Was Said
Abhishek Kumar announced his decision at a press conference, citing family reasons for stepping back from the contest. He confirmed that he had submitted a withdrawal letter to BJP Bihar State President Sanjay Saraogi. 'I am unable to contest the Assembly by-election due to family reasons and will continue to serve as a party worker,' he said, while thanking the state leadership for the opportunity.
His nomination, filed on 9 July, had been a high-profile affair — attended by several senior NDA leaders and presented as a show of the party's organisational strength in the constituency.
Why Bankipur Matters
The Bankipur Assembly seat fell vacant after its sitting legislator and BJP National President Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha, triggering the by-election. The seat carries symbolic weight: it is associated with the BJP's top leadership and sits in the heart of Patna, making it a prestige contest for the ruling party.
Notably, this is not a routine bypoll — a loss here would carry outsized political optics for the BJP in Bihar ahead of the state assembly election cycle.
BJP's Next Move
As of the time of reporting, the BJP had not announced a replacement candidate or outlined its strategy following the withdrawal. The party is expected to name a new nominee before the close of the nomination window. The abruptness of Abhishek Kumar's exit — one day after a publicly staged filing — has surprised both party workers and political observers.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other opposition parties remain in the fray, and the BJP's delay in confirming a fresh candidate could cede early momentum to rivals.
Political Fallout and What Comes Next
The episode raises questions about internal alignment within the NDA ahead of the bypoll. Whether the 'family reasons' cited are the full picture, or whether internal party dynamics played a role, remains unclear — and the BJP has not elaborated beyond Abhishek Kumar's own statement.
With the nomination deadline approaching, all eyes are now on the BJP's state leadership to announce a credible replacement candidate and steady the alliance's campaign in Bankipur.
Point of View
Leadership-attended nomination filing is not a routine event — it signals either a serious personal crisis or unresolved internal tensions that the party chose to paper over with a quick public exit. The BJP's silence on a replacement, in a seat directly vacated by its own national president, is conspicuous. Bankipur is not a seat the BJP can afford to contest half-prepared; losing it would be read nationally as a rebuke in the party's own backyard. The 'family reasons' explanation may be accurate, but it leaves enough ambiguity for the opposition — and the press — to fill with speculation. How quickly and convincingly the BJP names a replacement will be the real indicator of whether this was a personal decision or a symptom of something larger.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Abhishek Kumar Bunty withdraw from the Bankipur bypoll?
Abhishek Kumar Sinha, alias Bunty, cited family reasons for his withdrawal, announced at a press conference on 10 July. He submitted a letter to BJP Bihar State President Sanjay Saraogi and said he would continue working as a party worker.
When did Abhishek Kumar file his nomination for the Bankipur by-election?
He filed his nomination on 9 July in the presence of several senior NDA leaders. He withdrew just 24 hours later on 10 July, making it one of the quickest reversals in the bypoll cycle.
Why is the Bankipur Assembly seat vacant?
The Bankipur seat fell vacant after its sitting MLA and BJP National President Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha, necessitating a by-election to fill the constituency.
Has the BJP named a replacement candidate for Bankipur?
As of 10 July, the BJP had not announced a replacement candidate or outlined its next strategy. The party is expected to name a new nominee before the close of the nomination window.
Who else is contesting the Bankipur by-election?
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and candidates from other parties are already in the fray. The BJP's delay in confirming a fresh candidate could give the opposition an early advantage in the campaign.
