The political contest for the Bankipur Assembly by-election has intensified after the Jan Suraaj Party officially named Prashant Kishor as its candidate. The announcement has set the stage for a high-profile battle, with Kishor taking on the BJP in a constituency that has remained one of the party’s strongest strongholds for more than four decades.
Kishor’s entry into the race has also triggered fresh debate within the Grand Alliance over its electoral strategy for the bypoll. While the alliance is yet to announce its candidate, differences have already surfaced between two of its principal constituents — the RJD and the Congress — on how to approach the contest.
RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said the party intends to contest the Bankipur by-election and will field its own candidate from the seat. His remarks indicated that the RJD is preparing to enter the fray independently rather than backing another Opposition contender.
The Congress, however, has suggested a different course. Congress spokesperson Rishi Mishra said that since Prashant Kishor has already declared his candidature, he should engage in discussions with the top leadership of both the Congress and the RJD. According to Mishra, if a consensus can be reached, the Grand Alliance should consider supporting Kishor as a common Opposition candidate against the BJP.
Mishra argued that a united Opposition front would present a stronger challenge to the BJP and help prevent a split in the anti-BJP vote. He said that if Kishor is willing, he should initiate talks with the leadership of the Congress and the RJD to explore the possibility of a joint strategy.
The contrasting positions adopted by the RJD and the Congress have raised fresh questions about the Grand Alliance’s plans for the Bankipur by-election. While the RJD has made it clear that it wants to contest the seat, the Congress has openly floated the idea of rallying behind a single Opposition candidate.
With Prashant Kishor now officially in the contest, political focus has shifted to the Grand Alliance’s next move. Whether the alliance fields its own nominee or attempts to forge a consensus around a common Opposition face could prove decisive in shaping the outcome of the Bankipur by-election.
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Published By:
Nitish Singh
Published On:
Jul 6, 2026 02:01 IST
