'Our objective was never to ... ': Prashant Kishor on why he chose to contest Bankipur bypoll

Prashant Kishor (File photo) - Prashant Kishor says he chose BJP bastion Bankipur to send message beyond caste politics

NEW DELHI: Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Monday said he deliberately chose to contest the Bankipur Assembly by-election from the BJP's long-time stronghold instead of opting for a politically "safe seat".

He said the move was intended to send a message that Bihar's voters should rise above caste and religion while casting their ballots.Speaking to ANI, he said, "... When people start their electoral politics, they look for safe seats for themselves... I am doing the opposite because I am telling the people of Bihar that if Bihar is to change, they must vote beyond caste and religion. They must stop voting out of fear of Lalu for BJP, or fear of BJP for Lalu.

To prove the point I am explaining to the people of Bihar, I am contesting from a place where votes should not be sought in the name of caste or religion.

.." Kishor said.

Bankipur, part of the Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, has remained a BJP bastion for decades. The seat was represented by BJP leader Nitin Nabin since 2010 after being held by his father, Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha, making it one of the party's strongest urban constituencies in Bihar.

Kishor, who is contesting the July 30 bypoll, also accused Nabin of abandoning the constituency after becoming the BJP's national president and later entering the Rajya Sabha."Yes, I know that the BJP considers Bankipur as its stronghold. Voters here have repeatedly reposed their trust in Nitin Nabin. But Nitin Nabin took no time in forgetting them. He abandoned the seat at the first opportunity to enter Parliament", the former poll strategist told PTI.Rejecting the BJP's argument that Nabin could not continue as an MLA after assuming the party's top post, Kishor cited Union Home Minister Amit Shah as an example."We have the example of Amit Shah. He was a member of the legislative assembly in Gujarat when he became the BJP president. He did not give up his seat. There was no compulsion for Nabin to move to Delhi. He chose to do so", he said.However, Kishor said his campaign was not centred on Nabin's resignation but on challenging the BJP's hold over the constituency."We are not fighting this election on the issue of Nabin abandoning the seat. We are urging the people to vote for us so that the arrogant BJP government in the state, headed by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, get a lesson", he said.He also alleged that some BJP leaders had taken Bankipur voters for granted."You can hear many BJP leaders say that even a cat or a dog can win Bankipur if it were fielded on that party's ticket.

This smacks of the contempt the BJP has for voters of a constituency where the people happen to be the richest and the most highly educated in Bihar. A victory for Jan Suraaj Party will teach a lesson to the BJP, which is taking them for granted", Kishor said.The Election Commission has scheduled polling for the Bankipur Assembly by-election on July 30, with counting to be held after the completion of the election process on August 4. The seat fell vacant after Nitin Nabin resigned from the Assembly following his election to the Rajya Sabha in April. Both the BJP and the RJD-Congress alliance are yet to announce their candidates.