PATNA: In a dramatic twist ahead of the Bankipur Assembly by-election in Bihar, the BJP on Friday replaced its candidate within hours after nominee Abhishek Kumar withdrew his nomination, citing "family reasons".
Abhishek Kumar, popularly known as Bunty, announced his decision at a press conference at the BJP's state headquarters in Patna, a day after filing his nomination papers. Thanking the party's central and state leadership for selecting him as the candidate, he declined to elaborate on the reasons behind his sudden withdrawal and took no questions from the media.
"Because of family reasons, I am unable to contest the bypoll. But, I will continue to work for the party as a committed worker. I have conveyed the same to state president Sanjay Saraogi," he said.
Within minutes of his announcement, the BJP's central election committee named Neeraj Kumar Sinha, a 32-year-old Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leader, as its new candidate for the July 30 bypoll.
According to BJP sources, Neeraj Kumar Sinha, a resident of Patna's Mithapur locality, is the nephew of late Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Narendra Bharti Mandal. Like Abhishek Kumar, he is understood to have been handpicked by BJP national president Nitin Nabin, who represented the constituency five consecutive times before being elected to the Rajya Sabha, necessitating the bypoll.
The last date for filing nominations is July 13.
According to party sources, Abhishek Kumar was Nitin Nabin's preferred choice for the constituency, having worked closely with him during Nabin's tenure as an MLA and minister in the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government. Both Kumar and Nabin belong to the Kayastha community.
The by-election has turned into a high-profile contest with Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor entering the fray. Kishor, who is expected to file his nomination papers on Monday, has been campaigning aggressively, urging voters to defeat the BJP to register their dissatisfaction with the NDA government.
"I know that even if I win, the NDA, which enjoys a brute majority, will not lose power. But, the people had voted for Nitish Kumar. They can make the BJP top brass understand their displeasure by defeating it in Bankipur," Kishor said at a recent public meeting.
Reacting to the BJP's last-minute change of candidate, Kishor mocked the ruling party, saying it appeared "jittery at the prospects of defeat".
"The BJP is known to entice or intimidate candidates of other parties. Now, its own candidates are running away, jittery at the prospects of a defeat. They used to brag that they can win Bankipur even if they fielded a dog or a cat. The people have decided to punish the party for the slight," he said.
Political speculation intensified after Abhishek Kumar's withdrawal came shortly after an NDA meeting at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence. BJP sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed the party decided to replace him after concerns emerged that his candidature could become a political liability because a close family member had been convicted in the fodder scam.
Kishor seized on the claim, saying: "So, it is an admission on the part of the BJP that it fields corrupt people. All the more reason for the people not to vote for the party."
The RJD has fielded Rekha Gupta for the bypoll. Party spokesperson Shakti Yadav alleged that Abhishek Kumar "was forced to withdraw by the BJP high command", while Congress spokesperson Asit Nath Tiwari claimed Nitin Nabin's choice of candidate had been overruled by the party's central leadership.
Prashant Kishor recently also received the backing of veteran Bollywood actor and Trinamool Congress MP Shatrughan Sinha, a former MP from the Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, adding further attention to what is shaping up to be one of Bihar's most closely watched by-elections.
(With inputs from PTI)
