Bankipur bypoll is referendum on Samrat Choudhary, BJP is arrogant: Prashant Kishor
Prashant Kishor has framed the Bankipur Assembly bypoll as a wider test for the BJP in Bihar. He said the result will show whether voters accept Samrat Choudhary's leadership and Jan Suraaj's challenge.
Jan Suraaj founder and Bankipur Assembly bypoll candidate Prashant Kishor said the upcoming by-election is not merely about electing an MLA but a referendum on Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary's leadership. He urged voters to use the election to send a message to the BJP over its choice of leadership in the state.
Speaking in an interview with Bihar Tak, Kishor said he had decided not to contest the 2025 Bihar Assembly election because he wanted to focus on campaigning for as many Jan Suraaj candidates as possible. He acknowledged that the party managed to secure only around 18 lakh votes in the election but said the result had not weakened its resolve to continue working for political change in Bihar.
Explaining why he chose to contest the Bankipur bypoll, Kishor said the election carries significance beyond the constituency. He argued that the BJP formed the government in Bihar in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar but later made Samrat Choudhary the Chief Minister. According to Kishor, the bypoll gives voters their first opportunity to express whether they support that decision. He appealed to those unhappy with Choudhary's elevation to vote against the BJP.
Kishor also accused the BJP of displaying political arrogance. He claimed BJP leaders had publicly said they could field "even a dog or a cat" from Bankipur and still win because the constituency remained a BJP stronghold. He also criticised what he described as the use of religious symbolism in politics, referring to BJP events where Hanuman imagery was used. He said many people wanted him to contest to challenge what he called the party's political arrogance.
He further claimed that the NDA believes it will continue winning Bihar regardless of governance because it receives votes on the basis of caste, religion, Prime Minister Modi's popularity, or fear of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Kishor said Jan Suraaj had initially created concern among established parties about political change in Bihar, but that concern faded after the Assembly election results. He said the Bankipur bypoll offers an opportunity to revive that challenge.
Addressing criticism that he selected a difficult constituency instead of an easier seat, Kishor said he deliberately chose Bankipur because he considers its voters among the most educated and politically aware in Bihar. He said if such voters still support the BJP despite their concerns over leadership, it would reflect their own political choice. He also argued that the BJP has benefited in the constituency because many voters do not want to support the RJD, leaving them without an alternative.
During the interview, Kishor was questioned about the affidavit he filed with his nomination papers, where he listed his profession as a political consultant and adviser. He replied that he declared the same profession because it matches his income tax filings. He said changing the description in the affidavit would have created inconsistencies with his tax records.
Responding to questions about his declared assets and the valuation of Vedas Venture, a company whose shares account for a major portion of his declared wealth, Kishor defended the disclosures. He said the company has donated 90 crore to Jan Suraaj and that its remaining value reflects its net worth after taxes. He added that the company belongs to members of his family, not to him personally, although it was created on his advice. He denied carrying out political consultancy over the past four years, saying he has remained in Bihar throughout that period and devoted himself to building Jan Suraaj.
Kishor also defended the educational qualification mentioned in his affidavit. He said the course he completed is equivalent to a master's degree and said that it was conducted in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University. He urged people to verify the programme independently instead of questioning its authenticity.
When asked whether another electoral defeat would affect his political journey, Kishor said he would decide his own future and would not abandon Bihar. He pointed out that he remained in the state even after Jan Suraaj's disappointing Assembly election performance and continued working from his ashram. He said he would remain committed to expanding the organisation across Bihar irrespective of the bypoll result.
On the 2030 Bihar Assembly election, Kishor said Jan Suraaj's immediate priority is to strengthen its organisation and take its ideas to every village in Bihar. He described the Bankipur contest as an election that local people wanted him to fight rather than a shift in the party's long-term strategy.
Asked about possible alliances if he wins the bypoll, Kishor ruled out joining either political bloc. He said Jan Suraaj is not part of any alliance and remains committed only to Bihar-centric politics. He added that no one can force him into an alliance and that he intends to work independently for the people of Bihar.
Kishor insisted that the Bankipur bypoll should be viewed as a verdict on the BJP's leadership in Bihar. He said that if voters back the BJP, it should be interpreted as support for Samrat Choudhary's leadership. He drew a parallel with the 2025 Assembly election, saying he accepted the verdict even though Jan Suraaj failed to secure the mandate it sought.
The Jan Suraaj leader also criticised the Bihar government over governance issues. He alleged that pension payments have remained pending for four months, the state treasury has effectively remained non-functional for six months, contractors have not received payments for development work, and students who took loans under the Student Credit Card scheme have not received government payments.
He further claimed that around 25 lakh ration cards were cancelled to reduce government expenditure, property registration rates were doubled in urban areas, a new tax is proposed on rural households despite promises of free electricity, and toll collection is being introduced on state highways. He alleged that these measures resulted from the government spending 30,000 crore before the Assembly election to influence voters through welfare announcements.
Kishor also questioned the BJP's decision to replace its Bankipur candidate and argued that if allegations against candidates truly mattered to the party, it should have acted similarly in other cases. He criticised what he described as blind political devotion and said no political ideology should lead people to stop questioning leaders. He argued that political parties should not use religious figures for electoral campaigns and warned against turning ideological support into unquestioning loyalty.
Voting for the Bankipur Assembly bypoll is scheduled for July 30, while the counting of votes will take place on August 3.
Jan Suraaj founder and Bankipur Assembly bypoll candidate Prashant Kishor said the upcoming by-election is not merely about electing an MLA but a referendum on Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary's leadership. He urged voters to use the election to send a message to the BJP over its choice of leadership in the state.
Speaking in an interview with Bihar Tak, Kishor said he had decided not to contest the 2025 Bihar Assembly election because he wanted to focus on campaigning for as many Jan Suraaj candidates as possible. He acknowledged that the party managed to secure only around 18 lakh votes in the election but said the result had not weakened its resolve to continue working for political change in Bihar.
Explaining why he chose to contest the Bankipur bypoll, Kishor said the election carries significance beyond the constituency. He argued that the BJP formed the government in Bihar in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar but later made Samrat Choudhary the Chief Minister. According to Kishor, the bypoll gives voters their first opportunity to express whether they support that decision. He appealed to those unhappy with Choudhary's elevation to vote against the BJP.
Kishor also accused the BJP of displaying political arrogance. He claimed BJP leaders had publicly said they could field "even a dog or a cat" from Bankipur and still win because the constituency remained a BJP stronghold. He also criticised what he described as the use of religious symbolism in politics, referring to BJP events where Hanuman imagery was used. He said many people wanted him to contest to challenge what he called the party's political arrogance.
He further claimed that the NDA believes it will continue winning Bihar regardless of governance because it receives votes on the basis of caste, religion, Prime Minister Modi's popularity, or fear of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Kishor said Jan Suraaj had initially created concern among established parties about political change in Bihar, but that concern faded after the Assembly election results. He said the Bankipur bypoll offers an opportunity to revive that challenge.
Addressing criticism that he selected a difficult constituency instead of an easier seat, Kishor said he deliberately chose Bankipur because he considers its voters among the most educated and politically aware in Bihar. He said if such voters still support the BJP despite their concerns over leadership, it would reflect their own political choice. He also argued that the BJP has benefited in the constituency because many voters do not want to support the RJD, leaving them without an alternative.
During the interview, Kishor was questioned about the affidavit he filed with his nomination papers, where he listed his profession as a political consultant and adviser. He replied that he declared the same profession because it matches his income tax filings. He said changing the description in the affidavit would have created inconsistencies with his tax records.
Responding to questions about his declared assets and the valuation of Vedas Venture, a company whose shares account for a major portion of his declared wealth, Kishor defended the disclosures. He said the company has donated 90 crore to Jan Suraaj and that its remaining value reflects its net worth after taxes. He added that the company belongs to members of his family, not to him personally, although it was created on his advice. He denied carrying out political consultancy over the past four years, saying he has remained in Bihar throughout that period and devoted himself to building Jan Suraaj.
Kishor also defended the educational qualification mentioned in his affidavit. He said the course he completed is equivalent to a master's degree and said that it was conducted in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University. He urged people to verify the programme independently instead of questioning its authenticity.
When asked whether another electoral defeat would affect his political journey, Kishor said he would decide his own future and would not abandon Bihar. He pointed out that he remained in the state even after Jan Suraaj's disappointing Assembly election performance and continued working from his ashram. He said he would remain committed to expanding the organisation across Bihar irrespective of the bypoll result.
On the 2030 Bihar Assembly election, Kishor said Jan Suraaj's immediate priority is to strengthen its organisation and take its ideas to every village in Bihar. He described the Bankipur contest as an election that local people wanted him to fight rather than a shift in the party's long-term strategy.
Asked about possible alliances if he wins the bypoll, Kishor ruled out joining either political bloc. He said Jan Suraaj is not part of any alliance and remains committed only to Bihar-centric politics. He added that no one can force him into an alliance and that he intends to work independently for the people of Bihar.
Kishor insisted that the Bankipur bypoll should be viewed as a verdict on the BJP's leadership in Bihar. He said that if voters back the BJP, it should be interpreted as support for Samrat Choudhary's leadership. He drew a parallel with the 2025 Assembly election, saying he accepted the verdict even though Jan Suraaj failed to secure the mandate it sought.
The Jan Suraaj leader also criticised the Bihar government over governance issues. He alleged that pension payments have remained pending for four months, the state treasury has effectively remained non-functional for six months, contractors have not received payments for development work, and students who took loans under the Student Credit Card scheme have not received government payments.
He further claimed that around 25 lakh ration cards were cancelled to reduce government expenditure, property registration rates were doubled in urban areas, a new tax is proposed on rural households despite promises of free electricity, and toll collection is being introduced on state highways. He alleged that these measures resulted from the government spending 30,000 crore before the Assembly election to influence voters through welfare announcements.
Kishor also questioned the BJP's decision to replace its Bankipur candidate and argued that if allegations against candidates truly mattered to the party, it should have acted similarly in other cases. He criticised what he described as blind political devotion and said no political ideology should lead people to stop questioning leaders. He argued that political parties should not use religious figures for electoral campaigns and warned against turning ideological support into unquestioning loyalty.
Voting for the Bankipur Assembly bypoll is scheduled for July 30, while the counting of votes will take place on August 3.
Jan Suraaj founder and Bankipur Assembly bypoll candidate Prashant Kishor said the upcoming by-election is not merely about electing an MLA but a referendum on Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary's leadership. He urged voters to use the election to send a message to the BJP over its choice of leadership in the state.
Speaking in an interview with Bihar Tak, Kishor said he had decided not to contest the 2025 Bihar Assembly election because he wanted to focus on campaigning for as many Jan Suraaj candidates as possible. He acknowledged that the party managed to secure only around 18 lakh votes in the election but said the result had not weakened its resolve to continue working for political change in Bihar.
Explaining why he chose to contest the Bankipur bypoll, Kishor said the election carries significance beyond the constituency. He argued that the BJP formed the government in Bihar in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar but later made Samrat Choudhary the Chief Minister. According to Kishor, the bypoll gives voters their first opportunity to express whether they support that decision. He appealed to those unhappy with Choudhary's elevation to vote against the BJP.
Kishor also accused the BJP of displaying political arrogance. He claimed BJP leaders had publicly said they could field "even a dog or a cat" from Bankipur and still win because the constituency remained a BJP stronghold. He also criticised what he described as the use of religious symbolism in politics, referring to BJP events where Hanuman imagery was used. He said many people wanted him to contest to challenge what he called the party's political arrogance.
He further claimed that the NDA believes it will continue winning Bihar regardless of governance because it receives votes on the basis of caste, religion, Prime Minister Modi's popularity, or fear of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Kishor said Jan Suraaj had initially created concern among established parties about political change in Bihar, but that concern faded after the Assembly election results. He said the Bankipur bypoll offers an opportunity to revive that challenge.
Addressing criticism that he selected a difficult constituency instead of an easier seat, Kishor said he deliberately chose Bankipur because he considers its voters among the most educated and politically aware in Bihar. He said if such voters still support the BJP despite their concerns over leadership, it would reflect their own political choice. He also argued that the BJP has benefited in the constituency because many voters do not want to support the RJD, leaving them without an alternative.
During the interview, Kishor was questioned about the affidavit he filed with his nomination papers, where he listed his profession as a political consultant and adviser. He replied that he declared the same profession because it matches his income tax filings. He said changing the description in the affidavit would have created inconsistencies with his tax records.
Responding to questions about his declared assets and the valuation of Vedas Venture, a company whose shares account for a major portion of his declared wealth, Kishor defended the disclosures. He said the company has donated 90 crore to Jan Suraaj and that its remaining value reflects its net worth after taxes. He added that the company belongs to members of his family, not to him personally, although it was created on his advice. He denied carrying out political consultancy over the past four years, saying he has remained in Bihar throughout that period and devoted himself to building Jan Suraaj.
Kishor also defended the educational qualification mentioned in his affidavit. He said the course he completed is equivalent to a master's degree and said that it was conducted in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University. He urged people to verify the programme independently instead of questioning its authenticity.
When asked whether another electoral defeat would affect his political journey, Kishor said he would decide his own future and would not abandon Bihar. He pointed out that he remained in the state even after Jan Suraaj's disappointing Assembly election performance and continued working from his ashram. He said he would remain committed to expanding the organisation across Bihar irrespective of the bypoll result.
On the 2030 Bihar Assembly election, Kishor said Jan Suraaj's immediate priority is to strengthen its organisation and take its ideas to every village in Bihar. He described the Bankipur contest as an election that local people wanted him to fight rather than a shift in the party's long-term strategy.
Asked about possible alliances if he wins the bypoll, Kishor ruled out joining either political bloc. He said Jan Suraaj is not part of any alliance and remains committed only to Bihar-centric politics. He added that no one can force him into an alliance and that he intends to work independently for the people of Bihar.
Kishor insisted that the Bankipur bypoll should be viewed as a verdict on the BJP's leadership in Bihar. He said that if voters back the BJP, it should be interpreted as support for Samrat Choudhary's leadership. He drew a parallel with the 2025 Assembly election, saying he accepted the verdict even though Jan Suraaj failed to secure the mandate it sought.
The Jan Suraaj leader also criticised the Bihar government over governance issues. He alleged that pension payments have remained pending for four months, the state treasury has effectively remained non-functional for six months, contractors have not received payments for development work, and students who took loans under the Student Credit Card scheme have not received government payments.
He further claimed that around 25 lakh ration cards were cancelled to reduce government expenditure, property registration rates were doubled in urban areas, a new tax is proposed on rural households despite promises of free electricity, and toll collection is being introduced on state highways. He alleged that these measures resulted from the government spending 30,000 crore before the Assembly election to influence voters through welfare announcements.
Kishor also questioned the BJP's decision to replace its Bankipur candidate and argued that if allegations against candidates truly mattered to the party, it should have acted similarly in other cases. He criticised what he described as blind political devotion and said no political ideology should lead people to stop questioning leaders. He argued that political parties should not use religious figures for electoral campaigns and warned against turning ideological support into unquestioning loyalty.
Voting for the Bankipur Assembly bypoll is scheduled for July 30, while the counting of votes will take place on August 3.
