Patna/IBNS, July 11 -- Former political strategist and Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) chief Prashant Kishor has taken a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the saffron party replaced its candidate for the Bankipur Assembly bypoll just weeks before voting on July 30.

Kishor mocked the BJP's last-minute decision, claiming it reflected the party's nervousness over the contest in what has long been considered one of its strongholds.

The BJP has withdrawn the candidature of Abhishek Kumar, popularly known as Bunty, and fielded its youth leader Neeraj Kumar Sinha instead.

The change comes just days after Bunty's name was approved by the BJP's Central Election Committee.

While Bunty has cited family reasons for stepping aside and the BJP...