Kathmandu— Jan Suraaj Party founder and election strategist Prashant Kishor extended his lead over Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll on Monday, with Kishor leading by 1,145 votes after the fourth round of counting. The final result will be declared after all 31 rounds of counting are completed.

Kishor's Strategic Move

Prashant Kishor’s decision to contest from Bankipur, a traditional BJP stronghold, is seen as a strategic move to challenge the party's dominance in the region. Speaking to ANI earlier, Kishor said he deliberately chose this seat to demonstrate that Bihar's voters should transcend caste and religious affiliations when casting their ballots. He urged people to vote based on issues rather than fear of political figures.

BJP's Stronghold at Stake

The Bankipur Assembly seat has long been a bastion for the BJP, with incumbent National President Nitin Nabin representing it since 2010. The bypoll was necessitated after Nabin vacated the seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha earlier this year. Kishor’s lead challenges the party's stronghold in the region and could signal a shift in political dynamics.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.