BJP names Abhishek Kumar as candidate for Bihar's Bankipur assembly bypoll

PATNA: The BJP on Tuesday announced Abhishek Kumar as its candidate for the upcoming bypoll to the Bankipur Assembly constituency in Bihar.The upcoming bypoll to the Bankipur Assembly constituency in Bihar is set to take place on July 30, with counting of votes scheduled for August 3, according to news agency PTI. The seat fell vacant after BJP national president Nitin Nabin resigned as the constituency's MLA following his election to the Rajya Sabha. Nabin was subsequently sworn in as a member of the Upper House of Parliament. The BJP has nominated Kumar as its candidate for the bypoll. The decision was approved by the party's Central Election Committee (CEC), according to a notification issued by BJP national general secretary Arun Singh. Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor has also entered the fray from Bankipur, a constituency that had elected Nitin Nabin to the Assembly five consecutive times. Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Monday announced Rekha Gupta as its candidate for the seat, ending speculation that the Mahagathbandhan alliance might extend support to Kishor in the contest.