In Bihar's assembly elections, the Rashtriya Janata Dal has taken a calculated risk by projecting Mukesh Sahani as the Mahagathbandhan's Deputy Chief Minister candidate. Sahani leads the Vikassheel Insaan Party and represents the Nishad community, which comprises about 9.6% of Bihar's population according to the 2023 caste survey. The RJD has allocated 18 seats to his party, hoping to attract Extremely Backward Classes votes that have largely shifted to the National Democratic Alliance over two decades. The Nishad community includes sub-castes like Mallah, Bind, Manjhi, Kewat and Turaha. While the RJD commands strong Yadav-Muslim support around 32% of voters, it requires an additional 7-8% to form government. Field visits across Darbhanga, Madhubani, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, East and West Champaran, and Siwan districts reveal mixed responses. Mallahs in some areas show willingness to shift allegiance, particularly where the VIP has organizational presence. However, other Nishad sub-castes remain unconvinced. Weak grassroots networks, memories of past RJD governance, and competing local factors limit Sahani's appeal beyond his core base.
Electoral arithmetic behind the Deputy CM gamble
The Mallahs within the broader Nishad community constitute just 2.6% of Bihar's population, making the RJD's concession appear oversized given the VIP's limited electoral strength. However, the strategy targets the entire Nishad cluster of Extremely Backward Classes who remain economically weak and historically marginalized. In riverine areas of north Bihar, particularly where the VIP maintains functional organizations, Mallah voters demonstrate openings toward the Mahagathbandhan. Ram Iqbal Sahani from Rewa village in Muzaffarpur, a self-identified BJP supporter, admitted that while Nitish Kumar's governance brought improvements, Sahani's elevation might benefit their community. Another voter noted that Sahani personally assists community members financially, building personal loyalty beyond electoral promises.
Ground reality shows limited reach beyond core base
Outside the Darbhanga-Muzaffarpur belt, the VIP's weak grassroots presence undermines Sahani's appeal. In Bettiah's Nautan constituency, Mallah voters dissatisfied with the local BJP legislator turned to Jan Suraaj rather than the VIP. Pramod Kumar, a 30-year-old Mallah farmer, questioned what a Darbhanga-based leader could deliver locally when he had never encountered any VIP workers. Other Nishad sub-castes like Turaha fish sellers in Siwan credit Nitish Kumar for infrastructure and stability. Some elderly Mallahs recall violent crime during previous RJD rule in riverine areas. Sahani's political journey began in 2013, forming VIP in 2018. In 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he lost Khagaria by 2.5 lakh votes. In 2020, the VIP won four seats allied with BJP.
Source: Link