Prashant Kishor Sworn in as Bankipur MLA After By-Election Victory

Prashant Kishor, the founder of the Jan Suraaj party, was sworn in as a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Monday, August 17, 2026, formally beginning his legislative career after a decisive by-election victory earlier this month. The oath was administered by Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar in his chamber at the state legislature in Patna, with the Assembly currently not in session.

Kishor won the Bankipur assembly constituency bypoll, the results of which were declared on August 3. He secured 64,151 votes, defeating his nearest rival, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Neeraj Kumar, by a margin of over 19,000 votes. The bypoll was necessitated after the sitting BJP MLA and state party president, Nitin Nabin, vacated the seat following his elevation to the Rajya Sabha. Kishor's victory ended the BJP's hold on the prestigious Bankipur seat, which the party had maintained since 1995.

Speaking to reporters after taking the oath, Kishor reflected on the significance of his new role. He said it was a matter of pride to join a legislative house that had been served by prominent Bihar political figures across generations, naming former chief ministers like Krishna Sinha, Karpoori...