Mukesh Sahani's Discontent Fuels Speculation of Rift Within Bihar's Mahagathbandhan

Patna, Bihar – As the political temperature rises in Bihar ahead of the upcoming elections, speculation is swirling around a potential rift within the Mahagathbandhan, the grand alliance of opposition parties. The source of the unease? Apparent dissatisfaction from Mukesh Sahani, leader of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), a constituent of the alliance.

Sahani, who has been declared the Mahagathbandhan's Deputy Chief Ministerial candidate, has seemingly expressed his discontent with the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) and Congress, leading to allegations from the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) of brewing trouble within the coalition.

Sahani's Political Trajectory and VIP's Role

Mukesh Sahani, often called the "Son of Mallah", founded the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) in 2018 to champion the rights of the Nishad and Mallah communities, which collectively constitute a significant portion (approximately 11-12%) of Bihar's voters. Sahani's political journey has been marked by shifting alliances. He initially campaigned for the BJP in 2015, then joined the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He later aligned with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, where VIP won four seats. Currently, VIP has realigned with the Mahagathbandhan. Despite VIP winning only four seats in the 2020 Assembly election, Sahani's charisma and appeal to his caste base have kept him relevant in Bihar politics.

Recognizing Sahani's ability to influence the EBC (Extremely Backward Classes) vote, the Mahagathbandhan has declared him as their deputy chief ministerial candidate. This move is seen as an attempt to win back the support of the Nishad-Mallah community, who had shifted towards the NDA due to welfare schemes.

BJP Alleges Internal Conflict

The BJP has been quick to seize upon the perceived discord, alleging that the Mahagathbandhan is a "Mahathagbandhan fighting among each other". This comes amid a history of political fluidity for Sahani, who has been known to break ties with parties that fail to deliver on promises, particularly regarding the Scheduled Caste status for the Mallah-Nishad community.

Points of Contention

Several factors appear to be contributing to Sahani's reported unease:

• Seat Sharing: Disagreements over seat allocation within the Mahagathbandhan have been a major sticking point. Sahani was reportedly upset about not being given enough "space" in the coalition and has asked for specific seats with a strong RJD or Congress presence.
• Leadership Ambiguity: Sahani has expressed his dissatisfaction with the ambiguity surrounding the leadership within the Grand Alliance. He has repeatedly demanded that Tejashwi Yadav be declared the CM candidate and that his own position as Deputy CM be announced before the polls.
• Past Grievances: Sahani has also publicly stated that his Mallah-Nishad community faced injustice under the RJD's rule in the past, further fueling speculation about his commitment to the alliance.

Mahagathbandhan's Response

While reports suggest internal discussions and attempts to placate Sahani, key leaders from the Mahagathbandhan, including Congress' Rahul Gandhi, have intervened to address Sahani's concerns. The RJD has also emphasized that Santosh Sahni is the authorized Mahagathbandhan candidate in constituencies facing internal disputes.

Implications

The alleged rift within the Mahagathbandhan has the potential to impact the alliance's prospects in the upcoming elections. Any division in the opposition ranks could benefit the NDA, potentially leading to a split in votes and a weakening of the challenge to the ruling coalition.

As the election draws closer, all eyes will be on Mukesh Sahani and the Vikassheel Insaan Party to see if they remain a committed member of the Mahagathbandhan, or if the alleged internal strife leads to further political realignments in Bihar.