• Source:JND
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Bihar Elections 2025: The checkmate game of politics on the board of election in Bihar intensified with the announcement of the chief ministerial candidate from the Opposition, Mahagathbandhan, on Thursday. The declaration of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav as chief ministerial face for the Bihar assembly elections was not surprising, as Lalu Prasad Yadav's party is the biggest constituent in the grand alliance. The catch of the story was the announcement that the Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani was the deputy chief minister candidate.

Sahani, whose VIP got 15 seats in the Mahagathbandhan seat-sharing deal, had been demanding the declaration of the deputy CM face before voting. In the 2020 elections, Sahani walked out of the Mahagathbandhan and joined the NDA. After switching sides, the VIP was given a total of 11 seats. Sahani managed to secure four seats, but he lost the election.

This time, ahead of the election, he negotiated hard with a threat to quit the Mahagathbadhan. It may sound that Sahani has been overrated in the grand alliance, considering the limited influence and size of his party. But in politics, every move is taken with much calculation.

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Here Are The Factors That Went In His Favour

- Leader Of The "Mallah-Nishad Community": Sahani himself comes from the Nishad-Mallah community, a major Backwards Class (Extremely Backwards Class). According to the 2023 Bihar caste-based census, the Nishad community, which includes the Mallah sub-group, makes up approximately 9.6 per cent of the state's population.

- EBC Deputy CM Face: It is a wise move to present an EBC CM Face, which constitutes 36 per cent of the state population. Sahani always calls himself the “Son of Mallah.”

- Despite being a small party, Sahani gained significant attention by winning four seats in the 2020 Bihar polls and became a minister in the NDA government. However, his three MLAs switched to the BJP in 2022.

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- Experts say Sahani is more capable of transferring votes to the allies' candidate.

- His influence is particularly visible in Seemanchal, Mithila, and the riverine areas of North Bihar.

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- His modern language, film background (having been a set designer), and media presence have given him recognition among the youth. He holds a good share of influence over the fishermen and women from his community.

- Sahani can mobilise and draw them towards the Mahagathbandhan, the Mallah community, a sub-caste of the Nishad community, spread across Bihar.

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