Tej Pratap Yadav, National President of the Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD), on Friday, 24 July announced his party's formal support for Jan Suraaj candidate Prashant Kishor in the Bankipur Assembly by-election scheduled for 30 July. The endorsement, made after internal party deliberations, adds a fresh dimension to one of Bihar's most closely watched electoral contests of the year.

How the Decision Was Reached

Speaking to reporters in Patna, Yadav said the JJD had arrived at the decision unanimously after internal discussions. He confirmed that he had spoken with Kishor earlier in the day before making the announcement public. 'The members of our party and I have decided who to support. We are supporting Prashant Kishor,' Yadav said.

According to Yadav, Kishor had conveyed during their conversation that preventing a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) victory in Bankipur reflected the aspirations of a large section of the electorate. Yadav said he concurred with that assessment.

Why the JJD Has No Candidate of Its Own

The JJD had originally fielded Veena Manvi, a party leader who has reportedly been active in the Bankipur constituency for nearly 15 years and commands a following among women voters. However, Manvi's nomination was rejected during the official scrutiny process, leaving the party without a candidate in the contest. With no JJD nominee on the ballot, the party pivoted to backing Kishor.

Yadav's Broader Critique: NEET, Education, and Healthcare

Yadav used the occasion to voice wider grievances, expressing solidarity with students and youth protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak and examination irregularities. He alleged that paper leaks had become a recurring problem in Bihar and criticised the government's handling of the issue, arguing that effective action had not been taken despite repeated incidents.

He also pointed to student demonstrations at Jantar Mantar as evidence of broader public dissatisfaction with examination transparency and accountability. Separately, Yadav alleged that the state's healthcare system required significant improvement — a charge he linked to the same narrative of governance failure he is deploying ahead of the by-poll.

The Bankipur Contest in Context

Bankipur has historically been regarded as a BJP stronghold, but Yadav claimed that public sentiment is now shifting toward change. The by-election has drawn considerable political attention, with multiple parties running active campaigns ahead of polling day. Kishor's Jan Suraaj platform, which positions itself outside conventional party structures, has emerged as a focal point for opposition consolidation in the seat.

With the JJD endorsement now in place, all eyes turn to whether the anti-BJP vote in Bankipur consolidates around Kishor or remains fragmented — a question that will be answered when results come in after 30 July.