Battle for Bankipur: BJP Names Candidate as Prashant Kishor Shakes up Bypoll
The opposition alliance said Gupta has 46,363 votes from the last contest as it rejects speculation about backing Prashant Kishor.
- On Monday, the Rashtriya Janata Dal declared Rekha Kumari Gupta as its candidate for the Bankipur byelection in Bihar after BJP national president Nitin Nabin resigned following his election to the Rajya Sabha.
- Bankipur has remained a BJP stronghold since 2010, with Nabin winning every assembly election; Gupta previously lost to him by over 40,000 votes in November 2025, receiving 46,363 votes to Nabin's 98,299.
- At a press briefing in Patna, RJD's Bihar unit president Mangani Lal Mandal justified fielding Gupta again, citing her close to 47,000 votes in 2025 and saying, "we have decided to field her again."
- Mandal rejected a Congress proposal to back Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, stating "the candidature of Rekha Gupta enjoys the backing of all our allies" and that the RJD would not claim seats where partners were in the fight.
- While the BJP has yet to announce its candidate, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor and local activist Veena Manvi, fielded by Janshakti Janata Dal under Tej Pratap Yadav, have entered the race for the contested constituency.
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Following Prashant Kishore's entry into the Bankipur Assembly by-election in Bihar, the RJD has also nominated Rekha Gupta as its candidate. Gupta's entry has completely changed the game for the Bankipur seat, and instead of a direct contest between the ruling party and the opposition, it could become a triangular contest. In such a scenario, PK's political path could be quite challenging.
RJD candidate Rekha Gupta has been nominated by the RJD for the Bankipur Assembly by-election in Bihar. Find out who Rekha Gupta is and how Prashant Kishore's entry has created a stir.
Rekha Kumari Gupta declared RJD's candidate for Bankipur byelection in Bihar
The RJD has fielded Rekha Kumari Gupta as its candidate for the Bankipur byelection in Bihar. Gupta was also party's candidate in the 2025 assembly elections, but had lost to BJP national president Nitin Nabin.
Bihar: RJD declares Rekha Gupta candidate for Bankipur bypoll
Patna, Jul 6 (PTI) The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Monday declared Rekha Gupta its candidate for the by-election to Bankipur assembly seat in Bihar, bringing to an end the speculations of Mahagathbandhan offering support to Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor. Announcement to the effect was made at a press conference, where state RJD […]
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