Several Jan Suraaj leaders join BJP ahead of Bihar’s Bankipur byelection
Several leaders from the Jan Suraaj Party have defected to the BJP ahead of the upcoming Bankipur byelection in Bihar. The new entrants cited a desire to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and contribute to national development as their primary motivation.
Why it matters
This shift in political alignment impacts the competitive landscape of the Bihar byelection and reflects broader trends in Indian regional politics.
In a setback to Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor ahead of the Bankipur Assembly byelection, several leaders, including candidates who contested last year’s Bihar Assembly elections on the party’s ticket, joined the BJP on Wednesday (July 15, 2026).
Those inducted into the BJP by the party’s State president Sanjay Saraogi included renowned mathematician K.C. Sinha and Ritesh Ranjan alias Bittu Singh, who had contested as Jan Suraaj candidates from the adjoining Kumhrar and Digha seats, respectively.
Also joining the BJP were Gopal Singh, who had contested from Maner in the 2025 Assembly polls, and Jan Suraaj’s Kisan Morcha district president Braj Kishore Sinha.
The Bankipur bypoll, scheduled for July 30, will witness a contest between Mr. Kishor and BJP nominee Neeraj Kumar Sinha.
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