The BJP had held this seat for nearly 35-years. Kishor won the seat by a margin of over 19,000 votes, showing a shift of about 70,000 votes away from the BJP in less than a year. In Datia, the sitting MLA was from the Congress while the Manjalpur seat was held by the BJP. Stunned by the Bankipur outcome, Bihar BJP president Sanjay Sarogi said the party “accepts the by-poll ver dict with bowed head”. It may be recalled that the Bankipur constituency went through various twists and turns, with the BJP changing its candidates.