PATNA, July 28 -- As by-election for the prestigious Bankipur assembly seat enters its last phase of campaigning ahead of polling on July 30, major political players intensified their outreach on Monday with vibrant roadshows and targeted public engagements. The triangular contest - pitting the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) longstanding stronghold against a determined challenge from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) - has turned the Patna constituency into a political battlefield, with all sides pulling out all stops in the final days. The BJP mounted a powerful show of strength, led by its national president Nitin Nabin and chief minister Samrat Choudhary. Nabin, who represented Bankipur for two decades before his elevation to the Rajya Sabha, joined hands with the CM to spearhead a roadshow in support of the party's candidate, Neeraj Kumar Sinha. The leaders, including agriculture minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and Patna Sahib Member of Parliament (MP) Ravi Shankar Prasad, were seen atop a specially designed and decorated truck, waving to large crowds of enthusiastic supporters as the cavalcade wound through key areas of the constituency. Party workers and local residents lined the streets, cheering and raising slogans in a display of saffron solidarity. The roadshow underscored traditional fervour of the party workers and also hinted about BJP's aggressive efforts to retain the seat. The party workers described the aggressive campaigning as part of a broader strategy to reconnect with voters on the twin planks of development and welfare schemes implemented during Nabin's long tenure as MLA. Nabin has been personally involved in booth-level preparations, emphasising continuity and the party's commitment to the constituency's progress. With CM Choudhary leading the campaign from the front, the party has been carrying out out high-visibility events like roadshow, door-to-door outreach and public meetings to woo the voters. Party leaders have projected the contest as an opportunity for voters to reaffirm faith in the NDA government's performance and ongoing development initiatives in Patna. The by-election was necessitated by Nabin's move to the Rajya Sabha, transforming what was once considered a safe BJP seat into a closely watched triangular battle. In a parallel event, RJD leader and leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav stormed the streets with a massive roadshow to draw support for the party's candidate, Rekha Gupta. Soon after returning from Europe tour, Yadav personally took charge of the campaign, leading the procession through key areas including Vigrahpur. Accompanied by Gupta, he stood atop a white SUV adorned with marigold garlands, folding his hands in greeting and waving to crowds waving green RJD flags. The event featured traditional elements such as elephants and camels, drawing hundreds of enthusiastic workers and locals. Addressing supporters and the media during the roadshow, Tejashwi Yadav exuded confidence. "Our victory in Bankipur is certain and there will be no 'vote chori' (vote theft) in this by-election," he declared. The energetic display signalled strong momentum for the RJD in the contest. Meanwhile, JSP founder Prashant Kishor, making his electoral debut as the party's candidate, continued his outreach to the electors. On Monday, he visited Patna civil court, where he was seen appealing to people with folded hands to support his bid. Kishor has been vocal in recent days, accusing BJP of misusing government machinery and welfare groups to influence voters, and has positioned the bypoll as a "referendum" on the performance of the BJP-led government under CM Choudhary. The Bankipur seat, long regarded as a BJP bastion in the heart of Patna, is now witnessing a clash between BJP's Neeraj Kumar Sinha, RJD's Rekha Gupta, and Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj. All three parties have ramped up their campaigns through door-to-door efforts, public meetings, and roadshows as the polling date approaches....