Prashant Kishor, who continued to lead in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll on Monday, used his advantage to send a pointed message to the BJP leadership, saying the contest was never just about electing an MLA but about deciding the future leadership of Bihar.
Addressing supporters as counting progressed, the Jan Suraaj founder said the trend reflected the aspirations of Bihar’s people, who, according to him, wanted the BJP’s central leadership to appoint “a good person” as the state’s next chief minister.
“The people of Bankipur have won. As we said throughout the campaign, this election was not about making an MLA. It was an attempt by the people of Bihar to tell the BJP’s central leadership to make a good person the Chief Minister of Bihar,” Kishor said.
#WATCH | Patna | As he continues his lead in the Bankipur bypoll, Jan Suraaj, chief Prashant Kishor says, "This is the victory of the people of Bankipur. As we stated during the election campaign, this was not just an election to choose an MLA. It was an attempt by the people of… pic.twitter.com/0cdjmL2ro5
— ANI (@ANI) August 3, 2026
He argued that Bihar needed leadership focused on education, employment, corruption and migration, so that young people would no longer be forced to leave the state in search of low-paying jobs elsewhere.
Bankipur Lead Turns Into Message For BJP
Calling the bypoll result a political milestone, Kishor claimed Jan Suraaj had rapidly bridged a decades-long gap with the BJP in Bankipur.
“The 30-year gap has been filled in just 30 days,” he said, attributing the shift to voters seeking better governance and greater opportunities for the state’s youth.
He maintained that the significance of the election went beyond the victory or defeat of an individual candidate. “Winning or losing an MLA seat is part of politics. I thank everyone who supported us, and for those who didn’t, we will work even harder to earn their trust,” he said.
Lead In Bankipur, Eyes on Patna
Kishor clarified that his political battle was not against any single leader but against the BJP-led NDA’s governance model in Bihar. “Our fight is not personal. It is not against any individual. It is against the BJP and the NDA. The Chief Minister will be chosen by them,” he said.
Without naming Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary as a personal rival, Kishor questioned the BJP’s leadership choices.
“If you make a criminal the Chief Minister of Bihar, Bihar cannot progress,” he said, urging the BJP to choose “a good and capable person” to lead the state.
He added that the chief minister need not belong to any particular community.
“Instead of Samrat Chaudhary, make some Kushwaha. There is no problem. Make a Kushwaha, but make a good person from the Kushwaha community,” he said.
Migration Emerges As Key Theme Of Kishor’s Address
Migration emerged as a key theme of Kishor’s address. He claimed that more than one crore youths from Bihar were working as labourers outside the state and urged both the Centre and the state government to create a comprehensive plan to generate employment at home.
“No child should have to leave their home, family and society to work in Gujarat, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu or Karnataka for Rs 10,000-15,000 a month,” he said.
Comparing Bihar’s development with Gujarat’s, Kishor argued that Bihar deserved equal attention and investment.
“If all the facilities are meant only for Gujarat, then where will the people of Bihar go? The people of Bihar are not born just to work as labourers,” he said.
He reminded the BJP that it had received a five-year mandate and should use it to place capable leaders in positions of responsibility.
Kishor also tempered expectations about what his election, if confirmed, could immediately achieve. “If I become an MLA, Bankipur will not become Bangalore overnight,” he said. “But people will certainly see improvements within the next two to three months.”
According to him, the bypoll represented a larger political battle over Bihar’s future.
“This election was not fought merely on the streets of Bankipur. It was fought over who should lead Bihar,” he said.
Reiterating his message to the BJP leadership, Kishor said the state’s voters wanted a chief minister capable of improving education, generating employment, reducing corruption and curbing migration.
“We do not want to become an MLA and do nothing. Our only objective is to bring improvement to Bihar,” he said.
Kishor’s wife, Dr Jahnavi Das, also thanked Bankipur voters as the Jan Suraaj chief maintained his lead.
“I thank the people of Bankipur from the bottom of my heart. He worked extremely hard for this victory,” she said. Kishor concluded by urging the BJP leadership to give Bihar the same priority it gives other states.
“If 25 MPs from Gujarat helped make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister, then 13 crore people of Bihar also voted for him with full faith. The BJP should be as concerned about Bihar as it is about Gujarat,” he said.