It lacks candidate of calibre: Prashant Kishor after BJP nominee pulls out from Bankipur bypoll

Patna, Jul 11 (PTI) Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Saturday called the BJP candidate's decision to withdraw his candidature from the Bankipur assembly bypoll in Bihar "unprecedented", and claimed that the saffron party "lacks a candidate of calibre". Kishor, who is contesting the by-election on his party's ticket, claimed that usually, nominees of BJP's rivals withdraw from electoral contests due to "pressure or fear from the saffron party". In an abrupt development, the BJP on Friday named youth wing leader Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its candidate for the bypoll to the Bankipur assembly seat in Patna, after nominee Abhishek Kumar Sinha pulled out citing “family reasons”. "Until now, people across the country have withdrawn from electoral contests due to pressure or fear from the BJP. However, for the first time, a BJP candidate himself has pulled out of the election race. The development is unprecedented," Kishor said. Abhishek Kumar Sinha, popularly known as Bunty, who is a vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha’s state unit, expressed his inability to contest the bypoll a day after filing nomination papers, causing the opposition to chuckle that the ruling party was “jittery at the prospects of a defeat” in the seat vacated by BJP national president Nitin Nabin. Kishor described the development as a victory of the strength of democracy and the people's trust. "The message is clear: people now want change and are finding their voice. This time, they will teach the BJP a lesson in its own bastion. The saffron party lacks a candidate of calibre," Kishor told reporters here. The new BJP nominee met Chief Minister Samrat Choudhry on Saturday and is expected to file his nomination papers on Monday. Kishor said that no force can withstand the power of the people. He asserted that the people's mandate is the "greatest force" and that the final decision ultimately rests with them. "The BJP is known to entice or intimidate candidates of its rivals. Now its own candidate is running away. The BJP is jittery at the prospects of a defeat. They used to brag that they can win Bankipur even if they field anyone. The people have decided to punish the BJP," Kishor claimed. "People of Bihar are clear in their view that a person like Samrat Choudhary, given his conduct, character and public image, cannot be imposed as the chief minister of Bihar. The CM can come from any community; that is not the issue. The real issue is choosing a capable and deserving person," the Jan Suraaj party founder said. The by-election will be held on July 30, and the result will be out on August 3. The bypoll was necessitated by the election of sitting BJP MLA Nitin Nabin to the Rajya Sabha after being named as the party's national president. Nabin had won the Bankipur seat for five consecutive times, which has been a BJP stronghold. PTI PKD BDC