The Indian Inclusive Party (IIP) is part of the Opposition Mahagathbandhan contesting the Bihar Assembly elections in November. Founded in July 2023 by former Congress member Indrajeet Prasad Gupta, known as I P Gupta, the party negotiated for three seats: Saharsa, Beldaur in Khagaria, and Jamalpur in Munger. Gupta himself is contesting from Saharsa. The 55-year-old engineer with an M.Tech degree comes from Patauna village in Jamui district and previously ran an IT business. He gained prominence after organizing a large rally at Patna's Gandhi Maidan in April demanding separate reservation for the Tanti-Pan community, currently classified under Extremely Backward Class. His political debut was in the 2020 Bihar polls from Sikandra, where he lost with just five percent votes. He joined Congress later but left in April this year, though he remains ideologically aligned with the party.
Advocacy for Tanti Community and Quota Demands
Gupta belongs to the Tanti weaver community, part of the larger Pan group. In July 2015, the state government shifted Tanti and Tatma groups from Extremely Backward Class to Scheduled Caste category alongside Pan, Sawasi and Panar groups. However, the Supreme Court in July 2024 reversed this decision, moving them back to EBC status. Gupta strongly opposed this verdict, criticizing the Nitish Kumar government for failing to defend the 2015 order in court. He has organized multiple meetings through Akhil Bhartiya Pan Mahasangh demanding separate quota for these communities. His advocacy has forced mainstream parties to acknowledge the issue, with BJP's Godda MP Nishikant Dubey recently promising action on Pan quota after the Bihar elections.
Source: Link