Prashant Kishor claims Bihar police detained his supporters before Bankipur bypoll
Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor alleged that Bihar police, at the BJP's urging, detained several of his supporters hours before voting began in the Bankipur assembly bypoll.
In Patna, Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, asserted that Bihar police had rounded up over sixteen of his supporters on instructions from the ruling BJP ahead of the Bankipur assembly bypoll. He reported that the detainees were moved among multiple police stations, with the station officer claiming no involvement and suggesting orders came from senior officials. Kishor alleged the BJP, fearing defeat after Nitin Nabin's resignation, used the police's 24-hour custody provision to keep his workers off the streets until voting concluded.
He also accused the party of deploying a fabricated video of JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar to sway voters. The contest, featuring 26 candidates, centers on Kishor versus BJP youth wing leader Neeraj Kumar Sinha, with initial polling at 4.61% by 9âŻa.m. Kishor said he would seek action against the police after the election.
Why it matters
The allegations raise concerns about possible misuse of law enforcement to influence a closely watched bypoll in a BJP stronghold.
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