Bankipur byelection: Polling begins as all eyes on contest between Prashant Kishor and BJP’s Neeraj Kumar Sinha
Polling has begun for the Bankipur Assembly byelection in Bihar, featuring a high-profile contest between Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor and BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha. Kishor has alleged that local police are detaining his supporters to influence the outcome.
Why it matters
This election is a significant test for Prashant Kishor's transition from a political strategist to an electoral candidate in a traditional BJP stronghold.
Polling for the Bankipur Assembly byelection in Bihar began at 7 a.m. on Thursday (July 30, 2026) amid tight security arrangements, officials said.
Around 3.80 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 26 candidates, including Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, who is making his electoral debut.
Voting will continue till 6 p.m., a senior official at the office of the State Chief Electoral Officer said.
Counting of votes is scheduled for August 3.
The entry of Mr. Kishor, a former poll strategist who launched the Jan Suraaj Party a few years ago, has turned the contest into a keenly watched battle in a constituency that has remained a BJP stronghold.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in