Patna: BJP on Saturday defended its decision to replace its candidate for the Bankipur assembly bypoll after the opposition attacked the last-minute switch. The contest has attracted attention as Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor is making his electoral debut and it is the first election in Bihar since CM Samrat Choudhary took office.The BJP, which has held the seat, formerly known as Patna Paschim, for the past three decades, has fielded Neeraj Kumar Sinha in place of Abhishek Kumar ‘Bunty’. Bunty, who had filed his nomination papers on Thursday, withdrew from the race, citing “family reasons”.Responding to the RJD’s jibe that the BJP had failed to finalise its candidate at the last moment despite Bankipur being its stronghold, BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi said, “Once he (Bunty) expressed his inability to contest, the central leadership and the election committee declared Neeraj as our candidate. He is a grassroots-level worker. This kind of opportunity is possible only within the BJP. He is also a dedicated worker from Bankipur and will file his nomination papers on July 13.”Rejecting Prashant Kishor’s claim that people were unhappy with the BJP, Saraogi said, “He used to say similar things in the November Assembly election in Bihar and 95% of his candidates forfeited their security deposits.”Neeraj, accompanied by Saraogi, later met CM Samrat Choudhary, who extended his best wishes.Targeting the BJP, Prashant Kishor said Bankipur was represented by BJP national president Nitin Nabin. “This is the first time a BJP candidate has withdrawn in its stronghold,” he said, alleging public resentment over political developments since Nov 2025.RJD candidate Rekha Gupta said, “They (BJP) can’t even make a proper decision about a candidate in the assembly, so how will they make decisions about the people’s welfare.”Nomination papers can be filed till July 13 and withdrawn till July 16. Polling will be held on July 30 and the results declared on Aug 3.