Neeraj Kumar Sinha: Why BJP Changed Candidate in Bankipur By-Election. A significant shift occurred in Bihar politics when the BJP replaced its candidate for the Bankipur by-election with Neeraj Kumar Sinha, just a day after the initial nomination. This decision surprised many because Neeraj Kumar Sinha was fielded instead of Abhishek Bunty, who had earlier filed his papers alongside the Chief Minister. The move positions Neeraj Kumar Sinha to now compete against Prashant Kishore.
The political reasons behind this change are clear. Initially, Abhishek Bunty was projected as the party’s hero. However, his father, Ravindra Prasad, was convicted in the fodder scam and is currently jailed. Prashant Kishore had prepared to make this a major campaign issue, which could have hurt the BJP’s prospects. To avoid this loss, the BJP decided to replace Bunty with Neeraj Kumar Sinha, a candidate with a young and clean image.
Political analysts believe that while the official reason stated personal issues for Bunty’s withdrawal, the real reason is different. Since the Bankipur seat is a stronghold for the BJP, the party is trying to ensure victory. The entry of Neeraj Kumar Sinha has made the competition interesting, as he now faces Prashant Kishore.
Overall, all eyes are on how Neeraj Kumar Sinha will campaign and what counter-attack Kishore will launch. The result of the Bankipur by-election will test whether this change of candidate benefits the BJP.