Patna: BJP national president Nitin Nabin, who arrived in Patna on Saturday, held marathon meetings with party workers and functionaries of NDA constituents ahead of the July 30 Bankipur assembly byelection. The contest is crucial for BJP as the seat represented by Nitin is witnessing a high-profile fight involving Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor and RJD’s Rekha Gupta.A joint NDA workers’ conference was organised at the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan Bhavan in Kadamkuan in support of BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha. BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi, MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, JD(U) state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha, LJP(RV) state president Raju Tiwari, RLM state chief Alok Kumar and HAM(S) state president Anil Kumar attended the meeting.The BJP’s decision to replace its candidate and Nitin’s direct involvement in the campaign indicate that the election will not be easy for the party. BJP has named 40 star campaigners for the bypoll.“We work through the organisation. The party and the organisation are our guardians. I am a party worker. I am receiving the blessings of the people of Bankipur,” Neeraj said.Several Jan Suraaj functionaries joined BJP on Saturday, while Prashant claimed he would defeat the party in its stronghold. BJP has retained the seat since 1995.
