Prashant Kishor, the poll strategist turned politician, has won the Bankipur assembly byelection, breaking the BJP's dominance on the seat for the first time in three decades. The victory marks a political comeback for Kishor, whose party had performed poorly in the state in previous elections.
Kishor described the win as a wake-up call for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and used the result to criticise Bihar's chief minister while stressing the need for development. He attributed his success to the backing of disgruntled supporters of the BJP, Congress, and RJD, and also acknowledged the role of Gen Z protests in the outcome.
The defeat is an embarrassment for the current government's leadership, as Bankipur had long been considered a BJP bastion.