BJP looks to steady Bankipur campaign after candidate change

Bankipur in Bihar presents a different challenge for the BJP. The party first fielded Abhishek Kumar, who filed his nomination but withdrew it the next day. The BJP immediately announced Neeraj Kumar Sinha as its candidate. The quick change on one of the party's strongest seats has given the opposition ammunition. Bankipur is a prestige battle for the BJP as it is not only one of its safest seats but was also represented by current BJP president Nitin Nabin.

The BJP is now planning its campaign carefully, first to contain the fallout from the change of candidate and then to focus on voters. Neeraj Sinha will file his nomination on Monday in the presence of NDA leaders, including state BJP president Sanjay Saraogi. It is not yet known whether Nitin Nabin will accompany Sinha during the nomination.

Also Read: Prashant Kishor says BJP lacks candidate of calibre after Bankipur withdrawal


"Even though it is a seat vacated by our national president, it is the organisation that fights elections. We will decide when our president should visit the constituency," Saraogi told ET.

"There is no setback, as the media is saying. Our earlier candidate expressed his inability to contest the election and we changed the candidate. Apart from this, nothing is different and the BJP's victory is certain," he said.