Bankipur by-election: Tejashwi Yadav's roadshow backs RJD's Rekha Gupta ahead of July 30 poll
Synopsis
With just days to go before the Bankipur by-election, Tejashwi Yadav took his campaign to the streets of Patna in a sprawling roadshow — and then pivoted to a sharp political attack, alleging that a local shopkeeper was murdered for exposing a sex racket shielded by police. The dual move — mass outreach plus law-and-order offence — encapsulates the RJD's high-stakes strategy to flip a seat that matters well beyond Bankipur.
Key Takeaways
Tejashwi Yadav led a roadshow through Bankipur , Patna on 27 July in support of RJD candidate Rekha Gupta .
The procession covered multiple localities including Mithapur , Chiraiyatand , Lohanipur , and concluded at Sabzibagh Crossing .
A second roadshow is scheduled for 28 July , ending near the Chakram Devi Temple .
Bankipur Assembly by-election polling is set for 30 July .
Tejashwi alleged that shopkeeper Bunty Yadav was murdered for exposing a sex racket with alleged police complicity, demanding the death penalty for the culprits.
He accused Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary of 'empty posturing' on law and order.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar's Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Monday, 27 July led a large roadshow through Bankipur constituency in Patna, canvassing support for party candidate Rekha Gupta ahead of the Bankipur Assembly by-election scheduled for 30 July. The campaign blitz signals the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) is pushing hard in the final stretch of a contest that has drawn significant political attention in Bihar.
Roadshow Route and Reach
The roadshow commenced at the RJD election office in Mithapur and wound through several densely populated areas — Chandpur Bela, Sipara, Postal Park, Chiraiyatand, Goriyatoli, Pirmuhani, and Lohanipur. Large numbers of party workers and supporters lined the route as Tejashwi Yadav greeted crowds and sought votes for Rekha Gupta.
The procession continued through Sahitya Sammelan, Dariyapur, Khetan Market, and Birla Mandir, concluding in the evening at Sabzibagh Crossing where party leaders intensified their outreach with the polling deadline closing in.
Second Roadshow Planned for Tuesday
The RJD has scheduled a follow-up roadshow on Tuesday, 28 July, also to be led by Tejashwi Yadav. The route will begin at Old Hartali Mor and pass through Boring Road, Rajapur Pul, Police Line Crossing, Lodipur, China Kothi, Income Tax Golambar, and Kidwaipuri, concluding near the Chakram Devi Temple. Back-to-back roadshows in the final days are being viewed as a central pillar of the party's strategy to consolidate votes in the constituency.
Tejashwi Targets Government Over Law and Order
Following the roadshow, Tejashwi Yadav visited the family of Bunty Yadav, a shopkeeper who was recently murdered, and offered his condolences. Speaking to reporters afterwards, he alleged that Bunty Yadav was killed for exposing an alleged sex racket operating with police complicity.
He said: 'Shopkeeper Bunty Yadav was murdered for exposing an alleged sex racket operating with police complicity. The culprits deserve the death penalty. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is merely engaging in empty posturing.'
The remarks injected a sharp law-and-order dimension into the by-election campaign, with the opposition using the incident to press the state government on public safety. Notably, this is not the first time the Mahagathbandhan has sought to link governance failures to electoral messaging in Bihar — a pattern that has resonated in urban constituencies like Bankipur in past cycles.
What's at Stake in Bankipur
Bankipur, a politically significant urban seat in Patna, has historically been a competitive battleground between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Grand Alliance. With polling just days away, the intensity of the RJD's ground campaign reflects the party's assessment that the seat is winnable. The outcome will be watched as a barometer of the opposition's strength in urban Bihar ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
Not just contestable. More telling is the pivot to the Bunty Yadav murder: by linking a crime to police complicity and naming the Chief Minister directly, the opposition is attempting to nationalise a local law-and-order grievance into a broader anti-incumbency argument. Whether that framing lands in an urban constituency — where voters weigh governance track records more carefully than rural belts — will be the real test of the RJD's reading of Bankipur.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Bankipur Assembly by-election?
The Bankipur Assembly by-election is scheduled for 30 July 2025. Campaigning entered its final phase on 27 July, with polling just days away.
Who is the RJD candidate in the Bankipur by-election?
The RJD has fielded Rekha Gupta as its candidate in the Bankipur by-election, contesting under the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) banner.
What did Tejashwi Yadav allege about the murder of Bunty Yadav?
Tejashwi Yadav alleged that shopkeeper Bunty Yadav was murdered for exposing an alleged sex racket operating with police complicity. He called for the death penalty for the culprits and accused Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary of empty posturing on law and order.
What areas did Tejashwi Yadav's roadshow cover in Bankipur?
The 27 July roadshow began at the RJD election office in Mithapur and passed through Chandpur Bela, Sipara, Postal Park, Chiraiyatand, Goriyatoli, Pirmuhani, Lohanipur, Sahitya Sammelan, Dariyapur, Khetan Market, and Birla Mandir, concluding at Sabzibagh Crossing.
Why is the Bankipur by-election politically significant?
Bankipur is an urban constituency in Patna that has historically been a competitive seat between the NDA and the Grand Alliance. The result will be read as an indicator of opposition strength in urban Bihar ahead of future elections.
