Prashant Kishor to Contest Bihar By-election on July 30

Political strategist Prashant Kishor will finally enter the electoral fray, having been declared the Jan Suraaj Party candidate for the July 30 Bankipur assembly by-election in Bihar. The party's state president, Manoj Bharti, announced Kishor's candidacy following a core committee meeting on Sunday.

The Bankipur seat became vacant after the Bharatiya Janata Party's Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha. The by-election is scheduled for July 30, with vote counting on August 3. The deadline for nomination filings is July 13.

This move marks a significant step for Kishor's political ambitions. His party, however, did not secure any seats in the 2025 assembly elections, making this by-election a crucial test for his political outfit. Other parties are also preparing for the contest, with the Janata Janshakti Dal (JJD) chief having nominated social activist Veena Manvi. The BJP, for whom the seat is a stronghold, is reportedly considering several leaders, including Ajay Alok, Neel Ratan Ghosh, and Ajeet Kumar Lali, as potential candidates.