The BJP on Friday sprang a surprise in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll by replacing its candidate just a day after the nomination process had begun, setting the stage for a high-profile contest in one of its traditional bastions in Bihar.
The party announced Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its nominee, dropping Abhishek Bunty from the race. Neeraj Sinha will now face Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor in the by-election.
Abhishek Bunty had submitted his nomination papers on Thursday in the presence of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and several senior NDA leaders, who attended the filing in a show of strength.
A day later, Bunty informed Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi through a letter that he was unable to remain in the contest because of "personal reasons".
He reiterated the same explanation while addressing a press conference later in the day and appeared visibly emotional during the interaction.
His withdrawal immediately triggered speculation over the reasons behind the last-minute decision.
According to sources, the development was linked to the conviction of Bunty's father, Ravindra Prasad, in the fodder scam case alongside former Chief Minister and RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Sources said the BJP believed Prashant Kishor was preparing to make the issue a central plank of his campaign, potentially causing political damage to the party during the bypoll.
In 2022, a CBI court convicted 75 people, including Lalu Yadav, in the fodder scam case. Ravindra Prasad, who served as the manager of Magadh Chemical Corporation at the time of the scam, was sentenced to three years in prison.
The CBI had submitted three chargesheets in the case between 2001 and 2003. Following the examination of 575 witnesses and 4,200 documents, the agency named Ravindra Prasad as an accused in the Rs 139 crore scam.
Senior BJP leaders said they became aware of the case against Ravindra Prasad only recently, prompting the decision to field a different candidate.
According to sources, Prashant Kishor had collected documents related to the case and was preparing to highlight them extensively during the election campaign.
In response, the BJP opted for a pre-emptive strategy by nominating Neeraj Sinha, describing him as a young, ordinary party worker.
The bypoll in Bankipur was necessitated after BJP president Nitin Nabin vacated the constituency following his election to the Rajya Sabha.
Although the BJP has remained unbeaten in the seat since 1995, when Nitin Nabin's late father, Navin Kishore Sinha, won the constituency, then known as Patna West, the contest is expected to be closely watched with Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor also in the fray.
