- By Chetna Shree
- Mon, 03 Aug 2026 10:21 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- RJD candidate Rekha Gupta finished third in Bankipur bypoll.
- Gupta failed to secure enough votes, forfeiting security deposit.
- Prashant Kishor's JSP won, breaking BJP's traditional stronghold.
Bankipur Bypoll: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) suffered a major setback in the high-profile Bankipur assembly by-election as its candidate, Rekha Gupta, dropped from second place in the 2025 Assembly elections to a distant third with just 14,273 votes. As a result, Gupta failed to reach the mandatory threshold required to save her security deposit.
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Bankipur Bypoll Results: An Overview
Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor clinched the seat after 32 rounds of counting, breaching a traditional BJP stronghold and pushing the RJD to a distant third place.
Candidate | Party | Votes Secured | Outcome |
Prashant Kishor | JSP | 64,151 | Winner (Won by 19,246 votes) |
Neeraj Sinha | BJP | 44,827 | Second Place |
Rekha Gupta | RJD | 14,273 | Third Place (Deposit Forfeited) |
RJD's Performance: 2025 Assembly Election Vs By-Election
In the 2025 Assembly election, Gupta finished second with 46,363 votes. The by-election results highlight a sharp decline in support for the RJD in the high-profile constituency.
Election | Position | Vote Received | Outcome |
2025 Assembly Election | Second | 46,363 | Second Place |
2026 Bankipur By-Election | Third | 14, 273 | Deposit Forfeited |
A total of 130,313 votes were cast in the Bankipur by-election. Under election rules, a candidate must secure at least one-sixth (16.67 per cent) of total votes to retain their security deposit, Jagran.com reported.
Required votes to save deposit: Around 21,719
Votes received by RJD candidate: 14,273
Shortfall: 7,446 votes below threshold
The third-place finish, along with the loss of the deposit, serves as a clear warning sign for the RJD leadership. Having finished second in the 2025 elections, the party now faces the task of analysing where its core vote base shifted during this contest,
ALSO READ: Byelection Results: Two Defeats, Many Challenges; What Lessons Can BJP Learn From Bypoll Losses
Prashant Kishor's Victory Reshapes Bankipur Political Landscape
Prashant Kishor's victory has altered the Bankipur political equation. By winning a seat long held by the BJP, the Jan Suraaj Party has established new competition for both established parties.