RJD Fields Candidate in Bankipur, Congress Protests

A significant development has taken place in the Bankipur assembly by-poll in Bihar, with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) declaring its candidate for the seat. The RJD has re-nominated Rekha Gupta, who had contested the 2025 assembly election from the same constituency. This move has left the Congress party upset, as it was also staking a claim to the seat.

The RJD's decision was announced by state party president Mangani Lal Mandal at a press conference. Rekha Gupta had previously lost to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Nitin Nabin in the 2025 assembly election, securing 46,363 votes compared to Nitin's 98,299 votes. The Congress party has expressed its displeasure at the RJD's decision, with Bihar Congress chief spokesperson Rajesh Rathore stating that the party's high command would decide whether to contest the by-poll.

Earlier, Bihar Congress spokesperson Asit Nath Tiwari had claimed that the Congress had the strongest claim to the Bankipur seat, which has traditionally been a Congress stronghold. However, the party has lost the seat in the 2015 and 2020 assembly elections. The voting for the by-poll is scheduled to take place on July 30, with the results being counted on August 3. The seat had fallen vacant after BJP national president Nitin Naveen was elected to the Rajya Sabha.

The BJP has not yet announced its candidate for the by-poll, but several leaders, including Ajay Alok, Ranveer Nandan, and Neel Ratan Ghosh, are reportedly in the running for the ticket. The notification for the by-poll has already been issued, and the nomination process has begun. The Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor had also announced his intention to contest the by-poll, adding to the complexity of the situation.

The RJD's decision to declare its candidate has significant implications for the alliance between the RJD and the Congress. The Congress party is likely to take a decision on whether to contest the by-poll in the coming days, which could potentially impact the alliance. The by-poll is being seen as a high-stakes contest, with the outcome likely to have significant implications for the political landscape in Bihar.

In the meantime, the BJP is yet to announce its candidate, but the party is expected to make a decision soon. The nomination process is underway, and the candidates are likely to start campaigning soon. The by-poll is expected to be a closely contested affair, with all the major parties in the fray. The outcome of the by-poll will be closely watched, as it could have significant implications for the political parties involved.

The Bankipur by-poll has become a significant issue in Bihar politics, with all the major parties staking their claim to the seat. The RJD's decision to declare its candidate has added to the complexity of the situation, and the Congress party's response will be closely watched. The by-poll is scheduled to take place on July 30, and the results will be counted on August 3. The outcome of the by-poll will be significant, as it could impact the political landscape in Bihar and the alliance between the RJD and the Congress.

The situation is being closely monitored by political observers, who are waiting to see how the situation unfolds. The by-poll is being seen as a test of strength for the major political parties in Bihar, and the outcome could have significant implications for the state's politics. The RJD's decision to declare its candidate has set the stage for a high-stakes contest, and the outcome will be closely watched by all stakeholders.

The nomination process for the by-poll is underway, and the candidates are likely to start campaigning soon. The voting for the by-poll is scheduled to take place on July 30, and the results will be counted on August 3. The outcome of the by-poll will be significant, as it could impact the political landscape in Bihar and the alliance between the RJD and the Congress. The situation is being closely monitored by political observers, who are waiting to see how the situation unfolds.

In conclusion, the RJD's decision to declare its candidate for the Bankipur by-poll has added to the complexity of the situation, and the Congress party's response will be closely watched. The by-poll is scheduled to take place on July 30, and the results will be counted on August 3. The outcome of the by-poll will be significant, as it could impact the political landscape in Bihar and the alliance between the RJD and the Congress. The situation is being closely monitored by political observers, who are waiting to see how the situation unfolds.