Prashant Kishor Says Bankipur Verdict Is a Message to BJP: ‘Appoint an Honest Chief Minister for Bihar’
Jan Suraj workers celebrate likely win of Prashant Kishor from Bankipur Assembly seat in Bihar. (Image Jan Suraj on X)
By AMIT KUMAR
Jan Suraaj founder says Bankipur bypoll was never about electing an MLA but about urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leadership to prioritise Bihar’s development, jobs and governance.
Patna, August 3, 2026 —Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Monday described his unassailable lead in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll as a political message from the people of Bihar to the BJP’s central leadership rather than merely an electoral triumph.
Speaking to reporters in Patna after establishing an unassailable lead, Kishor said the contest was “never about electing an MLA” but about urging the BJP leadership to provide Bihar with an “honest, capable and development-oriented Chief Minister.”
“This is the victory of the people of Bankipur,” Kishor said. “During the campaign, we repeatedly said this election was not about making someone an MLA. It was an attempt by the people of Bihar to send a message to the BJP’s central leadership that Bihar deserves a good Chief Minister,” he told reporters after he visited the counting centre at the local A. N. College.
He argued that the BJP, which enjoys a strong legislative majority in Bihar, should avoid projecting leaders with “criminal backgrounds or questionable character” and instead choose someone who can improve education, create employment and restore public confidence.
“The people have given the BJP 202 MLAs. Do not make someone with a dubious character the face of Bihar. Appoint a good person so that education improves, jobs are created and Bihar’s youth no longer have to migrate in search of work,” he said.
Thanking those who voted for him, Kishor said he would continue working to win the trust of those who did not support him.
“The important issue is that Bihar should get better leadership. The state must improve. Before the Lok Sabha election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP and Amit Shah should think seriously about Bihar’s future, employment opportunities and stopping migration,” he said.
Kishor reiterated that his political objective was larger than winning a legislative seat.
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“We have not entered politics to become MLAs and distribute contracts. Our only objective is Bihar’s development. Elections should not be fought merely over free ration, caste or religion. They should be fought over education, employment and opportunities for our children,” he said.
Drawing a comparison with Gujarat, Kishor said Bihar had also contributed significantly to Prime Minister Modi’s electoral victories and therefore deserved greater attention from the Union government.
“If Gujarat’s people helped Narendra Modi become Prime Minister, then Bihar’s 13 crore people also voted for him with faith. He should care about Bihar as much as he cares about Gujarat,” he said.
Kishor highlighted the large-scale migration of Bihari workers, saying more than one crore people leave the state for low-paying jobs in other parts of India.
“Bihar’s children should not have to leave their homes for jobs paying ₹10,000 or ₹15,000 a month in Gujarat, Delhi, Mumbai, Tamil Nadu or Karnataka. The Centre should prepare a special programme to stop migration,” he said.
Calling the result politically significant, Kishor claimed that a BJP bastion of nearly three decades had fallen within a month of campaigning.
“A 30-year fortress has collapsed in just 30 days. It has happened because people want politics to move beyond caste and free ration. They want education, employment and development. If governments fail to deliver, they will see similar election results in future,” he said.
Kishor clarified that his criticism was directed at governance rather than individuals, although he again questioned Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary’s suitability for the state’s top post.
“Our fight is not against any individual. The BJP has the mandate, and the Chief Minister will come from the NDA. We are only requesting Prime Minister Modi and the BJP leadership to appoint an honest, capable person who can make Biharis proud and improve governance,” he said.
He also said Bihar deserved development projects comparable to those undertaken elsewhere in the country.
“If Gujarat can get massive infrastructure projects like the bullet train, Bihar too deserves serious investment. Biharis were not born merely to work as migrant labourers,” he said.
On his immediate priorities as MLA, Kishor promised visible improvements in Bankipur over the next few months.
“I don’t want to make exaggerated promises. Bankipur will not become Bengaluru because I have become an MLA. But people will certainly see improvements here within the next two or three months,” he said.
Kishor maintained that the bypoll had fundamentally been a referendum on Bihar’s future leadership rather than local civic issues.
“The message from Bankipur is simple: Bihar needs honest leadership, better governance, jobs, quality education and an end to migration,” he said.
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