Bihar: Several Jan Suraaj leaders join BJP ahead of Bankipur bypoll

Patna, Jul 15 (PTI) In a setback to Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor ahead of the Bankipur assembly bypoll, several leaders, including candidates who contested last year’s Bihar assembly elections on the party’s ticket, joined the BJP on Wednesday. Those inducted into the BJP by the party’s state president Sanjay Saraogi included renowned mathematician KC 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 Kishor and BJP nominee Neeraj Kumar Sinha. "Inspired by the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, there has been a rush among politicians of opposition parties across the country to join the saffron party. People from all over the country want to join it," Saraogi told reporters. He said the new entrants would strengthen the party organisation. Sinha said he joined the BJP to contribute towards making India a global leader through education. "In the current situation, national interest is paramount. Amid the clouds of war hovering across the world, the hands of the central government need to be strengthened so that India’s voice can resonate globally. India had once led the world as a Vishwaguru and must regain that position, especially through excellence in education," he said. Ritesh Ranjan Singh apologised for joining Jan Suraaj in the "heat of the moment" and said he will remain with the BJP forever. "I just want to say that one should never act in the heat of the moment. Whatever I did, I apologise for that. ‘Jeena yahan, marna yahan, iske siwa jana kahan’," he said, quoting a popular Hindi film song to underline his commitment to the BJP. Describing his induction into the BJP as a "homecoming", Gopal Singh said he had worked for the party in the 1990s. "When I contested on a Jan Suraaj ticket from Maner last year, I realised there was no vision there, only hollow talk. Above all, an arrogant person can never run an organisation. That is why we have returned to our home," he said. PTI SUK MNB