Patna, July 5 -- Jan Suraaj Party's state president Manoj Bharti on Sunday announced that its founder Prashant Kishor will contest the July 30 by-election from the Bankipur Assembly constituency in Bihar.

The seat, traditionally a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stronghold and was vacated by BJP national president Nitin Nabin after he was elected to the Rajya Sabha, necessitating the bypoll.

With Prashant Kishor entering the fray, the contest is expected to be closely watched as a direct political battle between the BJP and Jan Suraaj.

The by-election to the 182-Bankipur Assembly constituency was necessitated following the resignation of Nitin Nabin.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday announced the schedule for bypolls to...