Days after being declared the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Bankipur Assembly byelection, Neeraj Kumar Sinha on Sunday (July 12, 2026) met former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his official residence to seek his blessings for victory. BJP State president Sanjay Saraogi and Union Minister Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh accompanied Mr. Sinha.
The seat fell vacant after Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha. On Friday (July 10, 2026), the BJP nominated Mr. Sinha as its candidate after Abhishek Kumar alias Bunty withdrew his candidature.
Mr. Sinha expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the party’s central and State leadership. He said that the BJP is the only political party in the country where an ordinary worker can rise to positions of leadership through hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the organisation.
Mr. Sinha, who is pitted against Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, recalled the moment he received the news of his candidature. He said that he was engaged in organisational work at the mandal level, distributing campaign slips among party workers. He remarked that such trust in a grassroots worker reflects the BJP’s unique organisational culture, where commitment and service are valued above everything else. He thanked the party’s central and State leadership for reposing their faith in him.
“No other political party can match the BJP’s ideological clarity, robust organisational structure, and dedicated cadre. Every BJP worker is committed to placing national interest and public service above personal considerations, and this remains the party’s greatest strength,” Mr. Sinha said.
Reaffirming his commitment to the people of Bankipur, Mr. Sinha said that every resident of the constituency is a member of his family. He pledged to carry forward, with sincerity and dedication, the development initiatives and tradition of public service established by the constituency’s representative, Nitin Nabin.
He described himself as a disciplined and committed party worker, saying that it was his foremost responsibility to faithfully carry out every direction of the organisation.
Patna Sahib MP Ravi Shankar Prasad campaigns for BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha in Meethapur locality of Patna on Sunday (July 12, 2026). | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Expressing confidence ahead of the byelection, Mr. Sinha said, “With the tireless efforts of BJP workers, effective coordination among NDA workers, the achievements of the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the development initiatives undertaken by the State government under the leadership of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, and the love and blessings of the people of Bankipur, the BJP will once again secure a historic victory and ensure that the lotus blooms in Bankipur.”
Later in the day, the NDA-backed candidate attended a meeting organised by the Mithapur Business Association, where he interacted with members of the business community. He assured them that, if blessed with the people’s mandate, his top priorities would include resolving traders’ issues, improving infrastructure, ensuring smooth traffic flow, enhancing security, and fostering a business-friendly environment.
Patna Sahib Lok Sabha MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, Rajya Sabha MP Dharmshila Gupta, Bihar Assembly Chief Whip and Digha MLA Sanjeev Chaurasia, Kumhrar MLA Sanjay Gupta, and BJP State General Secretary Nitin Abhishek were also present at the meeting.
Both Mr. Kishor and Mr. Sinha will file their nomination papers on Monday (July 13, 2026).
Published - July 12, 2026 07:28 pm IST