In an unexpected turn of events, BJP leader Abhishek Kumar Sinha withdrew his candidature from the by-elections to the Bankipur assembly constituency in Bihar on Friday (10th July). Sinha cited family reasons for the decision. He announced the decision during a press briefing in Patna and said that he would continue to serve the party in the capacity of a worker.
“I have just handed a letter to State President, Sanjay Saraogi, which I am now reading out before you. The Bharatiya Janata Party had selected me as the NDA candidate for the by-election in the Bankipur Assembly constituency. I express my gratitude to the central and state leadership for this. I wish to humbly inform you that, due to family reasons, I am unable to contest the Assembly by-election. I will continue to serve faithfully as a party worker,” Sinha told the media.
#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: BJP candidate for Bankipur Assembly byelection Abhishek Kumar Sinha says, "…due to family reasons, I am unable to contest the Assembly by-election. I will continue to serve faithfully as a party worker."
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2026
"I have just handed a letter to State President,… pic.twitter.com/I2lWDq36cz
The decision comes just a day after he filed his nomination for the by-election. After his withdrawal, the BJP declared Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its new candidate.
Bye-elections | BJP fields Ashutosh Tiwari from Madhya Pradesh's Datia and Neeraj Kumar Sinha from Bihar's Bankipur Assembly seat pic.twitter.com/o4d6IU8hpp
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2026
The Bankipur assembly constituency seat was vacated by the BJP National President, Nitin Nabin, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha. The last date for filing the nominations is 13th July. The scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on 14th July, and the elections will be held on 30th July.
RJD has fielded Rekha Kumari from the seat, while Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor himself is contesting the Bankipur byelection
