Prashant Kishor Alleges Police Interference in Bankipur By-Election

The founder of Jan Suraaj, Prashant Kishor, filed formal complaints with the Election Commission of India and Bihar Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjiyal alleging widespread electoral interference. Kishor accused Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya Sharma and subordinate officers of misusing police powers to intimidate voters and favor a specific political party during the Bankipur Assembly by-election.

Kishor alleged that police detained party workers without justification, with reports indicating more than 16 leaders were harassed on Wednesday night and up to 54 supporters were illegally detained at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He claimed these actions occurred across Patna and Bakhtiyarpur. Chief Electoral Officer Gunjiyal has assured Kishor that an immediate inquiry will be conducted.

The by-election was triggered by BJP president Nitin Nabin vacating the seat to join the Rajya Sabha. It features a three-way contest between the BJP, Jan Suraaj, and the Rashtriya Democratic Mukti Sangathan. The BJP rejected the allegations of intimidation, instead accusing Jan Suraaj workers of attempting to cast fake votes. While BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad dismissed Kishor's claims of party arrogance as a false narrative, Kishor predicted a crushing defeat for the BJP ahead of the August 3 vote counting.