The Mahagathbandhan alliance in Bihar is banking on Mukesh Sahani, leader of the Vikassheel Insaan Party, to win over the Nishad community votes. The RJD has allocated 18 seats to his party and declared him the potential Deputy Chief Minister if the coalition wins. Sahani, who calls himself the "Son of Mallah", represents the fishing and boatmen communities of north Bihar. The Nishad community comprises about 9.6% of Bihar's population and includes sub-castes like Mallah, Bind, Manjhi, Kewat and Turaha, all classified as Extremely Backward Classes. While the RJD already enjoys support from Yadav-Muslim voters (around 32%), it needs an additional 7-8% to regain power after two decades. Ground reports from districts like Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, West Champaran and Siwan show mixed reactions. Many Mallahs are shifting towards the RJD because of Sahani's Deputy CM promise, but other Nishad sub-castes remain loyal to the NDA or are unimpressed by the VIP's weak grassroots presence. Some voters criticize Sahani for leaving the BJP alliance, while others question whether caste alone can secure their votes.
Mixed Response Among Nishad Sub-Castes
In Gaura Bauram constituency of Darbhanga, many Mallahs support the RJD primarily because Sahani is promised the Deputy CM post. Jawahar Sahani, 60, says the community will vote for RJD due to caste loyalty. However, dissent exists even within Mallahs, with some preferring the NDA. In West Champaran's Bagaha, Turaha sub-caste members show little interest. Vegetable seller Raju Sah dismisses Sahani as irrelevant, declaring support for Narendra Modi. Another vendor, Vikki Kumar, has not even heard of Sahani. In Siwan, Turaha fish seller Shyam Babu Sah credits Nitish Kumar for development and complains that VIP workers never visit their villages. The weak organizational reach of the VIP outside Darbhanga-Muzaffarpur hampers broader Nishad consolidation.
Sahani's Political Journey and Electoral Record
A former Bollywood set decorator, Mukesh Sahani founded the VIP in 2018 after being politically active since 2013. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, allied with the Mahagathbandhan, he lost Khagaria to LJP's Mehboob Ali Kaisar by 2.5 lakh votes, securing only 27% votes. In 2020, the VIP joined the BJP and contested 11 Assembly seats, winning four. One MLA later died, and the remaining three defected to the BJP. Critics argue the RJD has made an oversized concession by offering 18 seats and the Deputy CM tag to a party with limited electoral strength. Sahani's Mallah sub-caste forms just 2.6% of Bihar's population, raising questions about the gamble's effectiveness.
Source: Link