Interview/ Mukesh Sahani, founder of the Vikassheel Insaan Party and a prominent Nishad (fisherfolk/OBC) leader
Q. How big is your party’s support base? And, how many seats do you expect to win?
A. I was earning Rs900 a day in Mumbai but returned to Bihar after seeing the condition of my people, especially the Nishad community, with no roads, no clean water, no livelihood. That pushed me into public work and politics. I didn’t plan this. But unlike others, I didn’t come with promises; I came with purpose. Today, our support base is strong, and we aim to win several seats on the strength of our work.
Q. How many seats are you going to contest and with whom?
A. In 2019, we joined the Mahagathbandhan during the Modi wave. In 2020, they promised us the deputy chief minister post but backed out. Later, we aligned with the BJP and won four seats. I became a minister. But the BJP tried to force a merger and break our party. Now, we are back with the Mahagathbandhan, with a strong voter base behind us.
Q. How many seats is the Mahagathbandhan giving you?
A. We have asked for 60 seats. Even if it is slightly fewer, that is acceptable.
Q. You once aimed to be the deputy chief minister. Where does that ambition stand today?
A. It is still there. When we form the government, our community must be represented. Only through power can we implement policies for our people.
Q. You have been with both the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, and were sidelined by both. Do you feel used by bigger parties? Or, is this realpolitik?
A. When you are small, big players try to crush you. That is the game―big fish tries to eat the small fish. Maybe I will also play it differently when I reach there. But today, we are focused on survival and strategy. The point is, if we are strong alone, we won’t need alliances. That goes for any party.
Q. What is your negotiation strategy for seat-sharing?
A. We fought three by-elections alone and got 25,000, 30,000 and 10,000 votes, respectively. Our average share was 14 per cent, more than the Congress in some places. That is our bargaining chip. We have been on the ground for the last eight years.
Q. Do you think Prashant Kishor is genuinely reaching out to communities like yours?
A. He is a great strategist. He thought what he was doing for others, he could do for himself. But Bihar’s caste dynamics are deep-rooted. It will take time for him to build outside that framework.
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Q. Would you consider joining Prashant Kishor in the future?
A. We share a good rapport. But today, he is not a winning horse. We are playing on the front foot in the Mahagathbandhan and may emerge as the second-largest force in the alliance.
Q. Can a caste-based party like yours survive without a strong alliance?
A. We can make others win or lose, but we can’t form a government on our own. Our 14 per cent vote share is growing, but we are realistic. First, we will build trust, show results and then people will decide our future.
Q. How do you view the Special Intensive Revision exercise?
A. Like in Maharashtra, the BJP is trying to manipulate elections in Bihar as well. They bite even those who offer friendship. If power is bought with money like [Narendra] Modi and [Amit] Shah are doing, there will be consequences.