Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor secured his party's first-ever electoral victory by defeating BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll in Bihar. Kishor won by 18,953 votes, polling 63,203 against Sinha's 44,250, while RJD's Rekha Gupta finished third. The bypoll was held after BJP leader Nitin Nabin resigned the seat. Calling the result a mandate for change, Kishor promised visible improvements in Bankipur within 2 to 3 months. The BJP accepted the verdict, saying it would review the reasons behind the defeat in its long-time stronghold. (PC: India Today)

Counting trends in 3 Assembly by-elections on Monday showed different outcomes across Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor was leading by 8,966 votes in Bankipur after 16 rounds, putting him on course for his first electoral victory and challenging the BJP's 31-year hold on the seat. In Madhya Pradesh's Datia, Congress candidate Ghanshyam Singh maintained a lead of over 6,500 votes, signalling the party could retain the constituency. Meanwhile, the BJP looked set to keep Gujarat's Manjalpur, with Satish Patel leading by more than 30,000 votes as counting neared completion. (PC: India Today)

Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor took an early lead in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll in Bihar as counting of votes began on Monday. The bypolls are also underway in Datia, Madhya Pradesh, and Manjalpur, Gujarat. Bankipur, a long-time BJP stronghold, is witnessing a closely watched contest after BJP changed its candidate before polling. The elections are the first since nationwide student protests over alleged paper leaks and are being seen as an important test of public mood, particularly among young voters. Counting is still in progress, and the final results are expected later in the day. (PC: NDTV)

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to make her first public appearance in India since being ousted from power nearly two years ago. On August 5, she will address a virtual event hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia in New Delhi, where she is expected to outline her political roadmap and proposed return to Bangladesh. Since arriving in India in 2024, Hasina has avoided public events and media interactions. Her speech comes amid ongoing legal and political challenges, making it a closely watched development with potential implications for Bangladesh's future political landscape. (PC: Reuters)

West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya admitted that the party has not yet been able to eliminate extortion in the state despite being in power for 2 months. Speaking at an industry event in Kolkata, he said claiming otherwise would be false. Bhattacharya acknowledged that some people within the BJP were displaying the same tendencies the party had criticised earlier. He also warned party workers against attacking opposition leaders, saying such actions could backfire. Stressing the need to keep politics out of business, he said the government would soon consult investors, entrepreneurs and academics before finalising a new industrial policy to boost investment. (PC: India Today)

Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal intensified his campaign against the Centre's E20 petrol policy, announcing he will march to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence on August 4 with 100 people "not afraid of lathis". Speaking at the National Town Hall Against E20 in New Delhi, Kejriwal said the delegation would submit printouts of petitions signed by over two lakh citizens opposing the policy. He alleged the 20% ethanol-blended fuel rollout was linked to the recent India-US trade deal and claimed it was being implemented "to keep America happy". AAP leaders also highlighted the heavy deployment of Rapid Action Force and Delhi Police personnel outside the Constitution Club venue.

Shehzad Poonawalla has resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), where he served as a national spokesperson, according to reports. Although neither Poonawalla nor the BJP has issued an official statement explaining the decision, he updated his X profile by removing all references to the party while describing himself as a lifelong follower of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Poonawalla joined the BJP after leaving the Congress in 2017 and became one of the party's prominent television debaters. His resignation has sparked political speculation, with observers awaiting an official clarification on the reasons behind his exit. 

AAP MP Raghav Chadha welcomed the passage of the Anti-Paper Leak Bill in Parliament, saying the government had finally responded to the concerns of millions of students. Speaking during the debate, Chadha remarked, “Govt heard, govt delivered,” while stressing that repeated examination paper leaks had shattered the dreams of aspirants and eroded trust in the recruitment system. He urged strict implementation of the new law to ensure transparent and fair examinations across the country. The legislation aims to curb exam malpractices through tougher penalties, stronger investigations, and enhanced accountability, protecting the interests of students and job seekers. (PC: PTI)

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has backed Rahul Gandhi's allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the July 20 protest crackdown. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said Shah "must be held accountable" for the alleged use of force against students. In the Lok Sabha, Gandhi claimed Shah "ordered the students of India to be shot." The BJP rejected the allegation. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju asked Gandhi to "show the order" and withdraw his remarks. Union Minister Jitendra Singh also denied any firing, saying "no shots were fired" and only tear gas was used.

Voting began on Thursday for the Bankipur Assembly bypoll in Bihar. Around 3.8 lakh voters will decide the fate of 26 candidates. Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor is contesting his first election against BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha. The seat became vacant after BJP leader Nitin Nabin was elected to the Rajya Sabha. Polling will continue until 6 pm, and votes will be counted on August 3. During voting, Kishor alleged that Bihar Police detained several of his supporters at the BJP's request. Police had not responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.