Bankipur bypoll: RJD re-nominates Rekha Gupta, Prashant Kishore enters fray

Patna: The political contest for Bihar's high-profile Bankipur Assembly by-election has intensified, with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) announcing Rekha Gupta as its candidate on Monday. The announcement came a day after election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, founder of Jan Suraaj, declared that he would contest the July 30 by-election himself. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has traditionally held the Bankipur seat, is yet to announce its candidate. RJD State President Mangni Lal Mandal formally announced Rekha Gupta's candidature for the Bankipur by-election, reaffirming the party's confidence in her despite her defeat in the previous Assembly election. Reacting to her nomination, Rekha Gupta expressed confidence that the RJD would emerge victorious this time. She appealed to the voters of Bankipur to support her, arguing that the constituency has given the BJP repeated opportunities over the past four decades and should now place its trust in a woman candidate. She also claimed that public dissatisfaction with the BJP and the state government would work in the RJD's favour. Commenting on Prashant Kishor's candidature, Rekha Gupta said there is a vast difference between a strategist and a politician. She remarked that while Kishor had helped others win elections in the past, contesting one himself would present a different challenge. The RJD had also fielded Rekha Gupta in the 2025 Bihar Assembly election from Bankipur. On that occasion, she was defeated by BJP leader Nitin Navin, who won the seat by a comfortable margin. According to the previous election results, Rekha Gupta secured 46,363 votes, representing less than 30 per cent of the total votes cast. Despite that setback, the party has once again nominated her, citing organisational considerations and local political factors. The RJD believes that by-elections often produce different electoral dynamics due to factors such as voter turnout, local issues, candidate outreach and changing political equations. While opposition parties have already announced their candidates, the BJP has yet to declare who will contest the seat vacated by Nitin Navin, who resigned after being elected to the Rajya Sabha. The BJP is expected to rely on its strong organisational network in the constituency as it seeks to retain one of its most prestigious urban seats. Bankipur is regarded as one of Bihar's most politically significant Assembly constituencies. Located in Patna district, it is one of the six Assembly segments that make up the Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency. Unlike many Assembly seats in Bihar, Bankipur is almost entirely urban. Its electorate largely comprises government employees, businesspersons, professionals, middle-class families and young voters. Consequently, civic issues such as traffic management, road infrastructure, drinking water, parking, employment opportunities and urban development dominate election campaigns. The constituency has long been considered a BJP stronghold, making the upcoming by-election a closely watched contest with implications extending beyond a single Assembly seat. With Prashant Kishor making his electoral debut, the RJD backing Rekha Gupta once again, and the BJP yet to unveil its candidate, the Bankipur by-election is shaping up to be one of Bihar's most keenly contested political battles. The Election Commission has already notified the election schedule, and political parties have begun mobilising workers down to the booth level. Polling will be held on July 30, with voting counted on August 3.