Bihar – In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through Bihar’s political circles, the Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) announced its support for a VIP RJD rebel candidate who is contesting against the party’s own national president. The stunning announcement came during a press conference in Darbhanga district on Tuesday, just 48 hours before voting in the Gaura Boram constituency. This unprecedented decision highlights the complex alliance dynamics and last-minute maneuvering that characterizes the Bihar assembly elections.
The Controversial Decision
VIP Party founder Mukesh Sahni made the surprising announcement that VIP would support Afzal Ali, the VIP RJD rebel candidate, despite the fact that his own younger brother Santosh Sahni serves as the national president of VIP and is contesting from the same Gaura Boram seat. “We have decided to support Afzal Ali in the polls,” Mukesh Sahni declared, a statement that underscores the complicated political calculations at play in the INDIA bloc’s seat-sharing arrangements.
Mukesh Sahni, who has been promised the Deputy Chief Minister’s post if the INDIA bloc comes to power in Bihar, emphasized that the decision was made in the broader interest of the alliance, even though it means working against his own brother’s electoral prospects in this particular constituency.
The Backstory of the VIP RJD Rebel Candidate
The emergence of this VIP RJD rebel candidate situation has its roots in last-minute negotiations and changing political calculations. Afzal Ali initially filed his nomination papers after receiving the RJD ticket from party supremo Lalu Prasad. However, during eleventh-hour negotiations, Lalu Prasad had second thoughts and decided to back Santosh Sahni instead, requesting that Ali, his own party’s candidate, withdraw from the race.
The VIP RJD rebel candidate, however, refused to comply with this request and did not withdraw his nomination papers. Lalu Prasad even went to the extent of writing a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar, requesting that Ali’s candidature “not be taken into consideration.” Despite this appeal from the RJD supremo, the letter went unheard, and Ali’s candidacy remained valid, setting the stage for the current complex situation.
RJD’s Disciplinary Action
Following Ali’s refusal to withdraw, the RJD took disciplinary action against the VIP RJD rebel candidate, expelling him from the party for what it termed “indiscipline.” This expulsion came after the RJD had already decided to back the VIP’s candidate, Santosh Sahni, recognizing the importance of securing the Nishad community votes that the VIP promises to deliver in this constituency.
The INDIA bloc’s Chief Ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav had even personally canvassed for Santosh Sahni a couple of days before Mukesh Sahni’s dramatic announcement of support for the VIP RJD rebel candidate. This reversal represents a significant embarrassment for the alliance and raises questions about coordination and decision-making within the INDIA bloc.
Impact on Electoral Prospects
When questioned about whether the belated decision to support the VIP RJD rebel candidate would help or hurt the INDIA bloc’s chances in Gaura Boram, where voters will find symbols of both VIP and RJD on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during Thursday’s polls, Mukesh Sahni acknowledged potential complications. “The confusion may have cost us about a thousand votes. But there is a wave in favour of the Mahagathbandhan,” he stated optimistically.
Sahni expressed confidence that the VIP RJD rebel candidate Ali, whose poll symbol appears in the top slot on the EVM, would emerge victorious despite the confusion. “It is true that all alliance partners wanted my younger brother to fight from the seat. But Ali did not relent and there was no point in pressing the matter further,” he explained, acknowledging the difficult position the alliance found itself in.
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Brotherhood vs. Politics
The situation involving the VIP RJD rebel candidate has created an unusual scenario where political calculations have trumped family loyalty. Mukesh Sahni’s decision to support Ali over his own brother Santosh reflects the complex nature of coalition politics in Bihar, where community vote banks and alliance commitments often take precedence over personal relationships.
When asked if Santosh Sahni had been consulted before the decision to support the VIP RJD rebel candidate, Mukesh Sahni replied somewhat evasively: “Of course, Santosh was taken into confidence before we took the decision. He is the national president and decides on party tickets. We could not have acted without his approval.” This statement suggests that the decision, while publicly surprising, may have involved internal family discussions about the broader political interests at stake.
Allegations of Deal-Making
Known for his reputation as a hard bargainer, Mukesh Sahni faced questions about whether the decision to support the VIP RJD rebel candidate was part of a larger deal, reportedly involving a berth in the legislative council for his brother Santosh. While Sahni did not directly confirm or deny these reports, his evasive response suggested that various considerations were indeed part of the decision-making process.
Sahni also expressed confidence that once victorious, the VIP RJD rebel candidate Ali would remain loyal to the INDIA bloc, despite his current status as an expelled RJD member and the complicated circumstances of his candidacy.
Broader Context
The VIP has fielded candidates in 16 seats of Bihar’s 243-strong assembly. Gaura Boram is among approximately a dozen seats where more than one constituent of the INDIA bloc has fielded candidates, reflecting the alliance’s ongoing challenges in finalizing seat-sharing arrangements and maintaining discipline among coalition partners.
The situation with the VIP RJD rebel candidate in Gaura Boram exemplifies the fragile nature of opposition unity in Bihar and the difficult balancing act required to manage diverse political interests within a broad coalition. As voting approaches, all eyes will be on this constituency to see whether the confusion helps or hurts the INDIA bloc’s chances and whether the VIP RJD rebel candidate can indeed secure victory despite the unusual circumstances surrounding his candidacy.
