Bihar – “I had been waiting for this moment for three and a half long years,” declared a visibly charged Mukesh Sahani moments after being announced as the Mukesh Sahani deputy CM nominee for the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar’s 2025 assembly election. The Vikassheel Insaan Party chief’s elevation to the Mukesh Sahani deputy CM position alongside RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as chief ministerial candidate represents a calculated political strategy aimed at consolidating backward and marginalized community support.
Once a BJP ally, the Mukesh Sahani deputy CM nomination bestows upon him the responsibility of steering the alliance boat with Tejashwi Yadav at the helm. During Thursday’s joint press conference announcing his selection, Sahani took a powerful oath: “BJP ko jab tak hum todenge nahi, tab tak chhoddenge nahi. (We will not let go until we break the BJP).”
Personal Vendetta Against BJP
The Mukesh Sahani deputy CM candidate has accused the saffron party of systematically undermining his political standing. “BJP broke our party and poached our MLAs. At that time, we had pledged with Ganga jal in our hands. The time has come. Standing strong with Mahagathbandhan, we will form our government in Bihar and oust the BJP from the state,” he declared, revealing the personal and political motivations behind his alliance with the opposition.
Sahani claims the BJP engaged in “splitting” his party and “luring away” its MLAs, creating deep resentment that now fuels his determination to defeat his former allies in the upcoming assembly elections.
Strategic Importance Despite Small Numbers
Despite Nishads comprising merely 2.5 percent of Bihar’s population and VIP contesting only 15 of the total 243 seats, the Mukesh Sahani deputy CM nomination highlights his vital importance to the Mahagathbandhan’s electoral calculations. His significance extends far beyond simple numerical strength, reflecting sophisticated caste arithmetic and grassroots influence.
The Mukesh Sahani deputy CM candidate even refused to completely bow to the giant RJD, fielding candidates on two seats where RJD contenders are also in the fray. However, Sahani himself will stay away from direct contest, nominating his brother Santosh from the Gaura Bauram seat instead.
Caste Arithmetic and Grassroots Hold
The Mukesh Sahani deputy CM selection’s strategic brilliance lies in caste arithmetic and his strong grassroots connections. His party website describes him as the “Son of Mallah,” noting that “his childhood was spent in extreme poverty, and from an early age, he witnessed the backwardness of the Nishad community up close.”
Born on March 31, 1981, in Supaul district into a fisherman family, the Mukesh Sahani deputy CM nominee represents the Nishad community (Other Backward Classes)—a small but politically influential group spread across several districts along the Ganga. His inclusion as deputy CM face constitutes a calculated effort by the Mahagathbandhan to strengthen its appeal among backward and marginalized communities.
Near Exit and Rahul Gandhi’s Intervention
The Mukesh Sahani deputy CM deal was far from straightforward. Sources indicate that VIP nearly walked out of the Mahagathbandhan after expressing dissatisfaction with seat-sharing arrangements. The party decided to stay only after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi personally intervened, demonstrating the national significance attributed to the Mukesh Sahani deputy CM nomination.
While Sahani’s personal electoral success has been modest, he is considered a leader with wide-reaching influence over voters across multiple constituencies, making the Mukesh Sahani deputy CM position crucial for the alliance’s prospects.
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Political Journey of Shifting Alliances
The Mukesh Sahani deputy CM candidate’s political journey has been marked by shifting alliances and unrelenting ambition. He first supported the BJP during 2015 assembly polls, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly endorsed him as a representative of the Nishad community.
However, disenchantment grew after the BJP failed to fulfill its promise of granting Scheduled Caste status to Nishads. In response, Sahani founded the Nishad Vikas Sangh in 2015 to mobilize his community and later launched the Vikasheel Insaan Party in 2018.
VIP initially joined Mahagathbandhan for 2019 Lok Sabha polls but failed to win any seats. In 2020, the future Mukesh Sahani deputy CM nominee switched to the NDA and won four assembly seats, later serving as Bihar’s minister for animal husbandry and fisheries before being dismissed in March 2022.
Electoral Contest Framework
The 2025 Bihar assembly election, scheduled in two phases on November 6 and 11, will witness direct contest between the NDA and Mahagathbandhan, with the Mukesh Sahani deputy CM nomination adding significant intrigue. Results will be declared on November 14.
The NDA comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha. The Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal, includes Congress, CPI-ML (Liberation), CPI, CPM, and Sahani’s Vikasheel Insaan Party.
Symbol of Backward Community Empowerment
The Mukesh Sahani deputy CM nomination transcends individual political ambition, symbolizing the Mahagathbandhan’s commitment to backward community representation and empowerment. His selection alongside Tejashwi Yadav creates a leadership team representing different backward caste constituencies, potentially broadening the alliance’s electoral appeal across Bihar’s complex social landscape.
The 44-year-old leader’s journey from extreme poverty to the Mukesh Sahani deputy CM position embodies aspirational politics that the Mahagathbandhan hopes will resonate with marginalized communities seeking representation in state governance.
