PATNA, July 18 -- With less than two weeks left for the July 30 Bankipur assembly by-election, the BJP has launched a twin-pronged strategy to retain the prestigious urban seat - intensifying its grassroots campaign while inducting leaders from rival parties, particularly the Jan Suraaj Party (JSP), in a move seen by political observers as an attempt to consolidate its traditional support base. The party has inducted 17 leaders over the past two days, including six prominent political figures, among them three former JSP candidates from the 2025 Bihar assembly elections. Simultaneously, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, a four-time MLA from Bankipur, has tasked party leaders with an extensive door-to-door campaign during his two-day visit to Patna last Tuesday. At a marathon meeting with state office-bearers, heads of party cells, media in-charges and spokespersons, Nabin directed every leader to personally contact at least 50 households and engage with around 250 voters over the next fortnight. He also asked functionaries to hold separate interactions with doctors, engineers, traders and other professional groups while highlighting the NDA government's development work in the constituency. Nabin instructed party workers to emphasise the completion of long-pending infrastructure projects, improved connectivity and civic amenities achieved during the NDA's tenure in Bankipur. "We are seeking votes on the basis of our work, not merely our name, and we are confident of victory," he told party leaders. Alongside the organisational push, the BJP has stepped up efforts to attract leaders from rival parties. Among those who recently joined the party are noted mathematician and former Patna Science College principal Prof KC Sinha, who contested the 2025 assembly election from Kumhrar on a JSP ticket; former JSP candidates Ritesh Ranjan Singh alias Bittu Singh (Digha) and Sandeep Kumar Singh alias Gopal Singh (Maner); and entrepreneur Chetna Jhamb, who was earlier associated with the JSP before contesting the 2025 election from Samastipur as an Independent. The BJP has also inducted Fatuha block pramukh Shruti Shri and former Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) national vice-president Anand Madhukar Yadav, along with hundreds of supporters. Political analysts view the induction drive as part of the BJP's broader strategy to blunt the challenge posed by Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party, which is seeking to emerge as a credible alternative in Bihar's political landscape. "The BJP is trying to weaken the opposition by hook or by crook. By poaching JSP leaders, it wants to send a strong message that the party's leaders are deserting it for the BJP," said DM Diwakar, social scientist and former director of the AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies. He said that the BJP was also attempting to prevent erosion of its traditional upper-caste support base. "The BJP fears that Prashant Kishor may attract a sizeable section of upper-caste voters who have traditionally supported the BJP. The induction of Prof KC Sinha is also meant to project that respected intellectuals and scholars, popular among students, are aligning with the BJP, thereby weakening the JSP's appeal," Diwakar said. The Bankipur bypoll, necessitated by Nitin Nabin's resignation after becoming the BJP's national president and entering the Rajya Sabha, has acquired significance beyond the constituency. Both the NDA and the Opposition view it as an important political test, especially because it has been a BJP stronghold since 1995, putting much of the BJP's prestige at stake, Diwakar signed off. Meanwhile, the Jan Suraaj Party on Friday said that it has sought the Election Commission's intervention in alleged violations of the model code of conduct in Bankipur assembly seat of Bihar by the BJP which is facing a challenge from its founder Prashant Kishor. Addressing a press conference, Jan Suraaj Party state president Manoj Bharti said a memorandum to this effect has been submitted to the state's Chief Electoral Officer by "our high-level delegation". He said, "Our memorandum has highlighted that BJP workers have been prowling the streets of Patna, posing as municipal corporation workers. They have been tearing our posters and banners off the walls of houses, even though we had obtained the consent of the owners"....