Prashant Kishor, BJP's Neeraj Sinha file nomination papers for Bankipur bypolls

Patna, Jul 13 (PTI) Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor and BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha on Monday filed their nomination papers for the July 30 bypoll to the Bankipur assembly seat in Bihar. Kishor, who is seeking to wrest the BJP bastion vacated by the party's national president Nitin Nabin a couple of months ago, was accompanied by his wife, Jahnavi Das, a medical practitioner from Assam. Das, who generally shuns the limelight, chose to accompany her husband as he made his electoral debut. After filing his nomination papers, Kishor told reporters, "This is not just my 'naamankan' (nomination) but a call for a political change in Bihar where people with criminal records must give up their chair." Kishor has been claiming that the bypoll would serve as a "referendum" on the NDA government in Bihar and that his victory would compel Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, the first BJP leader to head a government in the state, to step down. Kishor has repeatedly referred to a murder case registered against Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary in the 1990s. The Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) founder, who floated the Jan Suraaj Party about two years ago, reached the collectorate in a procession that began at the Dak Bungalow crossing, about a kilometre away. Earlier in the day, he addressed a public meeting at a ground near the police lines. Before filing his nomination papers, Kishor offered prayers at Baba Hariharnath Temple in Sonepur. He later proceeded from the Scout Guide Ground near Sinha Library in Patna to the collectorate, accompanied by a large number of supporters and party workers. On the BJP side, senior leaders, including local MP Ravi Shankar Prasad and state unit president Sanjay Saraogi, accompanied Sinha, a 32-year-old Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader, who was fielded after Abhishek Kumar "Bunty" withdrew from the contest. Abhishek had filed his nomination papers last week but later withdrew his candidature, citing "family reasons". "People of Bankipur have always been in support of BJP, and opposed the 'jungle raj' of Lalu Prasad. Our candidate is a simple, booth-level worker. People will make him win with a decisive mandate," Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters. Choudhary and NDA partners like Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Choudhary (JDU) and state LJPRV president Raju Tiwari were also present during the nomination. Before departing to file his nominations, Sinha offered prayers at Panchrupi Hanuman Mandir. Meanwhile, Janata Janashakthi Dal (JJD) candidate Veena Manvi was arrested shortly after filing her nomination. Patna SP (Central) Mamta Kalyani said, "There was a warrant against her in a forgery case. Police executed the warrant and arrested her." She, however, refused to divulge details about the case. JJD chief, who is in Delhi, described the arrest as a "conspiracy by the government" and claimed that the party's candidate was "falsely implicated" because she was in a "strong position" to win the election. "A conspiracy has been hatched by the government. Our candidate is falsely implicated," he said in a video message posted on his X handle, adding that the party will move to court against the "false implication" of Veena Manvi. "People of Bankipur are watching how injustice is being done to a woman. When injustice is done to a woman, then Lord Krishna's Sudarshan Chakra works. Once I arrive in Bihar, my Sudarshan Chakra will work. Veena Manvi is winning for sure. That is why she has been falsely implicated. We will now work to move court," Yadav said. The bypoll to the seat will be held on July 30. The counting of votes is scheduled for August 3. While July 13 is the last date of filing nominations, candidates can withdraw their nomination by July 16. RJD candidate Rekha Kumari filed her nomination on Friday. She had contested from the same seat in 2025 and came second. PTI SUK NAC BDC MNB