Several Jan Suraaj leaders join BJP ahead of Bihar’s Bankipur byelection

In a setback for Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor ahead of the Bankipur Assembly by-election, several leaders, including candidates who contested last year’s Bihar Assembly elections on the party’s ticket, joined the BJP on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Among those recruited into the BJP by the party’s State president Sanjay Saraogi were famous mathematician KC Sinha and Ritesh Ranjan alias Bittu Singh, who were contesting as Jan Suraaj candidates from the adjoining Kumhrar and Digha seats respectively.

The BJP was also joined by Gopal Singh, who is contesting from Maner in the 2025 Assembly polls, and Jan Suraaj’s Kisan Morcha district president Braj Kishore Sinha.

The Bankipur bypoll, scheduled for July 30, will see a contest between Mr. Kishor and BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha.

“Inspired by the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, there is a rush among politicians of opposition parties across the country to join the saffron party. People from all over the country want to join it,” Mr. Saraogi told reporters.

He said the new candidates will strengthen the party organization.

Mr. Sinha said he joined the BJP to contribute to India becoming a global leader through education.

“In the current situation, national interests are paramount. Amid the clouds of war hovering around the world, the hands of the central government need to be strengthened so that India’s voice resonates globally. India had once led the world as a Vishwaguru and must regain this position, especially through excellence in education,” he said.

Ritesh Ranjan Singh apologized for joining Jan Suraaj “in the heat of the moment” and said he would remain with the BJP forever.

“I just want to say that you should never act on the spur of the moment. Whatever I did, I’m sorry.”Jeena yahan, marna yahan, iske siwa jana kahan‘,” he said, quoting a popular Hindi film song to underline his loyalty to the BJP.

Describing his joining the BJP as a “homecoming”, Gopal Singh said he worked for the party in the 1990s.

“Last year, when I contested on the Jan Suraaj ticket from Maner, I realized that there was no vision there, just empty talk. First of all, an arrogant person can never run an organization. That’s why we returned home,” he said.