Early vote-count trends show Jan Suraj chief Prashant Kishor leading in the Bankipur assembly by-poll on Monday [1].
These results are closely watched as they mark the electoral debut of Kishor and serve as prestige contests for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) across three states.
Counting is currently underway for by-elections in the Bankipur constituency in Bihar, the Datia constituency in Madhya Pradesh, and the Manjalpur constituency in Gujarat [1]. The voting for these three seats took place on July 30, 2026 [5].
In Bihar's Bankipur seat, Kishor is currently ahead of the BJP's Neeraj Kumar. Reports on the exact margin of the lead vary. One source said the lead exceeds 13,000 votes [1], while another suggests it is over 3,000 votes [2]. A third report said that Kishor led by 4,556 votes after the eighth counting round [3]. Election officials said that eight rounds of counting still remain in Bankipur [4].
Meanwhile, the Congress party is leading in the Datia assembly by-poll in Madhya Pradesh [1]. In Gujarat, the BJP is maintaining a significant lead in the Manjalpur constituency [1].
These by-elections were triggered by a combination of previous legislators resigning or facing convictions [6]. Because the seats are seen as high-stakes for the ruling party, the early trends in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh suggest a challenging environment for the BJP in these specific locales [6].
“Early vote-count trends show Jan Suraj chief Prashant Kishor leading in the Bankipur assembly by-poll”
The early lead for Prashant Kishor in Bankipur represents a significant moment for his Jan Suraj movement, transitioning from a political strategist to a candidate. If he secures the win, it validates his independent electoral viability in Bihar. Simultaneously, the Congress lead in Datia and the BJP's dominance in Manjalpur reflect the fragmented nature of regional political strongholds during mid-term vacancies.
