In an interview with News18, a day after breaking through a BJP stronghold, the Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) leader declared that his win served as a referendum on the leadership of Bihar’s Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary.
According to the Election Commission, Kishor triumphed over BJP’s Neeraj Kumar by more than 19,000 votes, accumulating 64,151 votes. Kumar garnered 44,827 votes, while Rekha Kumari from the RJD came in third with 14,273 votes.
The JSP chief emphasized that enhancing education is his priority, stating he will soon introduce a plan to uplift Bankipur to the standards of global cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Critiquing the BJP, he mentioned that their representatives were nowhere to be found once they learned he would contend in these elections. He asserted that he is not interested in being the figurehead of either the Opposition or the government. “I am the face of Bihar; I came from here,” he affirmed.
Addressing assertions about the strength of the BJP’s organization, Kishor stated that their structure faltered as soon as he entered the race.
“When I stood before the people and engaged with them, their entire organization was rattled. The reality is that in every neighborhood, a handful of BJP goons dictate local politics. Previously, residents voted for the BJP out of fear of Laluji, creating an illusion of strength for the party,” he expressed.
“This is why the people favored them, and they have achieved little. If it weren’t for the intimidation of goons and the support from the police during the elections, the BJP wouldn’t have secured more than 15,000 votes, ultimately facing a significant loss. You claimed that this election would be a referendum.”
Education will be my priority
Kishor outlined his vision for Bankipur, stressing the necessity of improving education, especially in impoverished areas.
He noted that over 60% of residents in the constituency live in slums and promised to enhance the quality of government schools. If tangible progress isn’t observed within a year, he pledged that his team would ensure children from these communities receive education in private and English-medium institutions.
No corruption will be tolerated
Kishor committed to zero tolerance for corruption concerning the MLA’s role. He emphasized that his behavior and public service would ensure that the residents of Bankipur would feel proud of their elected representative.
“As an MLA, the people of Bankipur will have no reason to be ashamed of my actions,” he asserted.
The Bankipur byelection was prompted by the resignation of sitting MLA Nitin Nabin, who transitioned to the BJP’s central leadership. Nabin is now a member of the Rajya Sabha and serves as the BJP National President.
People can vote above caste
Kishor stated that the Bankipur election results demonstrate voters’ ability to look beyond caste when they support a candidate or initiative.
“When a topic, incident, face, or person captures public interest, voters in Bihar have consistently looked past caste lines. People voted for Congress following Indira Gandhi’s death. They backed BP Singh due to his strength. They chose Modi in 2014. They rallied around Pulwama for nationalism. Now they have voted for Prashant Kishor in Bankipur. Whenever a significant issue or individual arises, people rise above caste,” he elaborated.
He called on the populace of Bihar to back capable candidates in their areas, insisting that electing good representatives is crucial for enhancing governance in the state. “I encourage others in Bihar to promote the best candidates they find worthy, supporting them wholeheartedly. When a good candidate prevails, it ultimately benefits you and your children,” he concluded.
