Counting of votes for the Bankipur bypoll began on Monday morning under tight security in Patna. Early trends from the Election Commission showed Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor taking the lead in his electoral debut.
The by-election has drawn national attention as Kishor seeks to end the BJP’s long-standing hold over the Bankipur Assembly constituency. BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha and RJD’s Rekha Gupta are also in the contest.
Prashant Kishor Leads in Early Trends
According to early counting trends, Prashant Kishor moved ahead of BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha during the initial rounds. The margin widened as more rounds of counting were completed, though the final result is yet to be declared.
Election officials said counting began at 8 am under multi-layer security arrangements. Postal ballots were counted before Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes.
High-Stakes Political Contest
The Bankipur seat became vacant after former MLA Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha. The bypoll is being closely watched because it marks Prashant Kishor’s first electoral contest after launching the Jan Suraaj Party.
Political observers believe the outcome could influence Bihar’s political narrative ahead of future elections. However, parties have urged supporters to wait for the official declaration of results.
Results Expected Later Today
Counting is continuing across multiple rounds, and the Election Commission is expected to announce the final result later in the day. Authorities have appealed for peace while the counting process remains underway.
The Bankipur bypoll remains one of the most closely watched political contests in Bihar. Final results will determine whether Prashant Kishor secures his first electoral victory or the BJP retains the seat.
