Prashant Kishor wins Bihar bypoll, calls BJP defeat 'wake-up call' for Modi

Prashant Kishor, the founder of the Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), has secured a significant victory in the Bankipur assembly byelection, defeating the BJP in its stronghold. Kishor, a prominent poll strategist, declared the BJP's loss a 'wake-up call' for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stressed that Bihar requires a chief minister focused on improving education, creating jobs, and halting migration, rather than pursuing personal gain through contracts.

Following his party's debut win, Kishor firmly rejected any notion of political alliances. "We shall have no alliance. Our alliance shall be with the people of Bihar," he stated, highlighting the voters' decision to support his party over established political forces. He pledged to work on improving the constituency as an MLA, promising visible changes within months without making unrealistic promises.

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This is a wake-up call for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bihar needs a chief minister who can improve education, create jobs and stop migration. Our objective is not to become MLAs for contracts but to ensure Bihar’s development.

The victory in Bankipur, a seat previously held by the BJP since 2010, is a major milestone for the JSP, which failed to win any seats in the 2025 assembly elections. Kishor attributed the win to the support of disgruntled voters from the BJP, Congress, and RJD, and suggested that recent student protests, known as Gen Z protests, may have also played a role. Some BJP leaders acknowledged that issues like paper leaks and student activism resonated strongly on the ground, potentially contributing to the defeat, alongside caste factors and the alienation of women voters.

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We shall have no alliance. Our alliance shall be with the people of Bihar. You should see that the people of Bankipur have voted for us, giving up on established parties.