Bihar bypoll: Bankipur byelection counting begins, Prashant Kishor’s electoral debut in focus

Debutant Prashant Kishor took a marginal lead in the first round of counting of votes, over his BJP rival Neeraj Kumar.

Counting of votes for the Bankipur Assembly bypoll in Bihar began at 8 a.m. in Patna on Monday (August 3, 2026), with all eyes on whether debutant Prashant Kishor of Jan Suraaj Party wrests the seat from the BJP.

Read updates from the vote counting for Manjalpur Assembly bypoll in Gujarat

The by-election was necessitated following the resignation of BJP national president Nitin Nabin, who gave up the seat in April upon election to the Rajya Sabha.