Bankipur bypoll: NDA backs Abhishek Kumar Bunty, calls victory 'certain'
Synopsis
The Bankipur bypoll on 30 July is no longer a routine seat-retention exercise for the NDA — Prashant Kishor's entry has reframed it as a referendum on Bihar's BJP-led government. With Nitin Nabin's near-two-decade legacy on the line and four lakh voters in play, this small bypoll has outsized political stakes.
Key Takeaways
NDA fielded Abhishek Kumar Bunty as its BJP candidate for the Bankipur Assembly bypoll , scheduled for 30 July .
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad declared the NDA would win 'with a huge majority', calling Bankipur a traditional stronghold.
The seat fell vacant after Nitin Nabin , who held it since 2006 , resigned as MLA upon being elected to the Rajya Sabha in April 2025 .
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor has entered the race, describing the bypoll as a 'referendum' on the BJP-led Bihar government.
The constituency has nearly four lakh voters and is being watched as a political bellwether ahead of Bihar's state assembly elections.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Thursday, 9 July declared full confidence in retaining the Bankipur Assembly seat in the upcoming Bihar bypoll, asserting that its Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Abhishek Kumar Bunty would win by a comfortable margin. The confidence was on open display as NDA leaders rallied around Bunty during the filing of his nomination papers in Patna.
NDA Shows of Unity at Nomination Filing
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, speaking to reporters after the nomination, underscored the coalition's cohesion. 'Today, we are proud that the entire NDA stood together as one family during the nomination of our candidate, Abhishek Kumar Bunty, from Bankipur. We will win this seat with a huge majority. Bankipur has traditionally been our stronghold, and we are confident that the people will once again bless the BJP,' he said.
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP Shambhavi Choudhary echoed the sentiment, calling a Bunty victory a foregone conclusion. 'The NDA's BJP candidate is certain to win the Bankipur Assembly bypoll with a huge majority. Since this seat belonged to Nitin Nabin, it is our responsibility to ensure the NDA retains it,' she said.
Why the Seat Fell Vacant
The bypoll was necessitated after BJP leader Nitin Nabin — who had represented Bankipur continuously since 2006 — resigned as MLA following his election to the Rajya Sabha in April 2025. Bihar Minister Ashok Choudhary highlighted the constituency's deep association with Nabin's legacy, noting that both Nabin and his late father had built a strong emotional bond with residents through years of development work.
BJP candidate Bunty himself pledged to carry that legacy forward. 'Our national president has done tremendous work in the constituency. We will reach out to the people and make them aware of the development and welfare initiatives undertaken over the years,' he said.
Prashant Kishor Enters the Fray
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor has entered the contest, framing the by-election as a 'referendum' on the performance of the BJP-led government in Bihar. Addressing party workers while announcing his candidature, Kishor urged the nearly four lakh voters of the constituency to vote for change — a direct challenge to the NDA's stronghold narrative.
NDA leaders appeared unfazed. Bihar Minister Ashok Choudhary took a pointed swipe at Kishor and the broader opposition, saying: 'Let them come. It is good that this time they are entering the field themselves. Until now, they used to sit in the stadium and instruct others to hit sixes and fours.'
What to Watch Before 30 July
The Bankipur Assembly bypoll is scheduled for 30 July. The contest is shaping up as a three-cornered battle between the entrenched NDA, Kishor's fledgling Jan Suraaj movement, and other opposition candidates. With Kishor framing the vote as a verdict on governance and the NDA banking on incumbency and legacy, Bankipur's four lakh voters will be closely watched as a bellwether for Bihar's political mood ahead of the state assembly elections.
Point of View
But Bankipur is different. Prashant Kishor's decision to contest personally transforms what should have been a straightforward NDA retention into a test of whether his Jan Suraaj movement can convert ground-level organising into actual votes. The NDA's bravado is understandable — Bankipur has been BJP territory for nearly two decades — but incumbency alone does not win elections when a credible challenger reframes the narrative around governance accountability. The real question is not whether the NDA wins, but by how much: a narrowed margin would embolden Kishor ahead of the full state election cycle.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bankipur Assembly bypoll and when is it scheduled?
The Bankipur Assembly bypoll is a by-election for the Bankipur constituency in Patna, Bihar, scheduled for 30 July 2025. It was necessitated after sitting MLA Nitin Nabin resigned following his election to the Rajya Sabha in April 2025.
Who is the NDA candidate for the Bankipur bypoll?
The NDA's candidate is Abhishek Kumar Bunty of the BJP. His nomination papers were filed on 9 July 2025, with senior NDA leaders including BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad and LJP (Ram Vilas) MP Shambhavi Choudhary present in a show of coalition unity.
Why is Prashant Kishor contesting the Bankipur bypoll?
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor has entered the race describing the by-election as a 'referendum' on the BJP-led government's performance in Bihar. He urged the constituency's nearly four lakh voters to vote for change.
Why did the Bankipur seat fall vacant?
BJP leader Nitin Nabin, who had represented Bankipur since 2006, resigned as MLA after being elected to the Rajya Sabha in April 2025, triggering the bypoll.
What is the political significance of the Bankipur bypoll?
Bankipur has been an NDA stronghold for nearly two decades, making it a test of the alliance's grip on urban Patna. Prashant Kishor's entry has elevated its profile, with many analysts viewing the result as an early indicator of voter sentiment ahead of Bihar's full state assembly elections.
