Jan Suraaj candidate Prashant Kishor on Saturday, 2 August filed a formal complaint with Bihar Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vinod Singh Gunjiyal in Patna, alleging that the Patna police administration attempted to influence the Bankipur Assembly by-election through voter intimidation and the detention of party workers. Kishor warned that he would escalate the matter to the Election Commission of India (ECI) in Delhi if the state authorities failed to act.

What Kishor Alleged

Kishor directly named Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma and his subordinate officers, accusing them of acting in ways designed to tilt the electoral outcome. 'The actions taken by the Patna SSP and his subordinate police officers to influence the entire election process — intimidating voters and arresting people without cause — are unacceptable,' he said.

According to Kishor, the complaint characterised the police conduct as 'unjust police action' against Jan Suraaj workers operating within the Bankipur Assembly constituency. He added that the Bihar CEO had assured him an immediate inquiry would be ordered and appropriate action taken as per rules.

Named Detentions and Specific Allegations

Jan Suraaj election agent Ajay Dwivedi separately alleged that the police had acted in a one-sided manner against party workers, including individuals who had reportedly travelled to Patna for personal reasons unrelated to the election. Dwivedi named several workers allegedly detained: Pratyush by Jakkanpur police, Varun Kumar by Pirbahore police, and Abhay Sharma, a resident of Motihari, by Jakkanpur police. He further alleged that Vikas Singh, Amir Iftiyaz, Manish Jha, and Sudarshan Mishra were picked up by the Bihar Police Special Task Force.

Tensions Before and During Polling

The friction between Jan Suraaj and the police predates polling day. On the night of 29 July, Kishor visited the Jakkanpur police station accompanied by a large number of supporters after several party workers were allegedly detained. A video purportedly showing a heated exchange between Kishor and police officials at the station subsequently circulated on social media, drawing wider attention to the dispute.

The Bankipur by-election had already witnessed clashes and confrontations involving supporters of multiple political parties before these allegations surfaced, making the post-poll period equally contentious.

What Happens Next

The matter is now reportedly under examination by election authorities following the Bihar CEO's assurance of an inquiry. Kishor has kept open the option of approaching the Election Commission of India directly, which would raise the political stakes for the Bihar administration and the Patna SSP. The outcome of any inquiry is likely to shape the narrative around the Bankipur result once vote counting concludes.