Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor surged ahead in the early rounds of counting for the high-profile Bankipur Assembly by-election on Monday, according to initial trends released by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The election marks Kishor’s first direct electoral contest, with the outcome being closely watched in Bihar’s political landscape.
Prashant Kishor Ahead In Debut Electoral Battle
Early counting trends showed Prashant Kishor leading from the Bankipur constituency, where he is contesting against BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has also fielded its candidate, making the by-election a keenly contested three-way fight.
While the early trends indicate an advantage for Kishor, the final outcome will depend on the completion of counting later in the day.
Bankipur By-Poll Draws Statewide Attention
The Bankipur seat fell vacant after former BJP MLA Nitin Nabin resigned following his appointment as the party’s Bihar president. Polling for the by-election was held on July 30, with voters deciding the fate of 25 candidates.
Given Prashant Kishor’s emergence as a political challenger in Bihar, the contest has attracted significant attention from all major political parties.
Tight Security At Counting Centre
Counting of votes is being conducted at Kala Bhawan in Patna under extensive security arrangements.
Election authorities kept the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) under a three-layer security system until counting began, while officials continue to oversee the process amid tight monitoring.
Counting Also Underway In Madhya Pradesh And Gujarat
Apart from Bihar, vote counting is also in progress for the Datia Assembly by-election in Madhya Pradesh and the Manjalpur Assembly by-election in Gujarat.
In Datia, the main contest is between BJP candidate Ashutosh Tiwari and Congress nominee Ghanshyam Singh. The result is being viewed as an important political test for newly appointed BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal.
Meanwhile, Gujarat’s Manjalpur by-election was necessitated following the death of BJP MLA and former minister Yogesh Patel. The constituency witnessed a contest between BJP candidate Satish Govindbhai Patel and Congress leader Bhikhabhai Rabari after recording a voter turnout of 37.5 per cent.
Results Expected Later Today
With counting continuing across all three states, political parties are closely tracking the trends. The Election Commission is expected to announce the final results once all rounds of counting are completed.
