The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced a politically significant setback in the latest Assembly bypolls after losing two high-profile constituencies in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, while managing to retain only the Manjalpur seat in Gujarat. The results handed victories to Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor in Bankipur and the Congress in Datia, dealing a morale boost to the Opposition ahead of future electoral contests.
The most closely watched contest unfolded in Bihar’s Bankipur Assembly constituency, long regarded as a BJP bastion. According to the Election Commission’s final figures, Prashant Kishor secured a decisive victory over BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha by more than 19,000 votes. Kishor polled 64,151 votes, while Sinha received 44,827 votes. RJD candidate Rekha Kumari finished a distant third with 14,273 votes.
Reacting after his victory, Kishor said the verdict carried a message beyond the bypoll itself. “This election was to decide on the BJP-NDA government and its leadership. The people of Bankipur have voted that the central leadership of the BJP should consider it and, in the interest of Bihar, hand over the power of Bihar to a good person,” he said.
Despite the defeat, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary accepted the public mandate and congratulated the Jan Suraaj chief. In a post on X, he said, “In the grand festival of democracy, the people have chosen Jan Suraaj in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll. I respect the people’s verdict and extend my heartfelt congratulations to Prashant Kishor ji on his victory.”
The BJP also suffered disappointment in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia Assembly bypoll, where the Congress successfully retained the seat. Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh defeated BJP nominee Ashutosh Tiwari by over 6,000 votes, securing 66,757 votes against Tiwari’s 60,741. Bahujan Samaj-linked Aazad Samaj Party candidate Damodar Yadav finished third with 22,527 votes.
The Datia result assumes added political significance as the constituency has long been associated with senior BJP leader and former state Home Minister Narottam Mishra. Following the defeat, Madhya Pradesh BJP president Hemant Khandelwal said the party would analyse the outcome before taking any organisational decisions.
“Discipline is paramount in the BJP. All our workers are equal. The party will take action based on the conclusions reached after the review,” Khandelwal said.
The BJP, however, prevented a complete rout by retaining the Manjalpur Assembly seat in Gujarat. Party candidate Satish Govindbhai Patel defeated Congress rival Bhikhabhai Rabari by a margin exceeding 30,000 votes. Patel secured 55,481 votes, while Rabari polled 24,851 votes.
After the result, Patel thanked voters for their support, while Rabari alleged misuse of government machinery during the campaign.
“The entire government machinery, including ministers, was deployed against me. There was open violation of the model code of conduct, and every possible tactic was used to defeat me. I am deeply saddened by the manner in which the code was violated,” Rabari alleged.
Although the bypolls do not alter the balance of power in the respective state assemblies, the outcomes carry considerable political weight. The BJP’s losses in Bankipur and Datia are expected to energise the Opposition, with Jan Suraaj gaining momentum in Bihar and the Congress strengthening its position in Madhya Pradesh ahead of future electoral battles.
