Bihar Elections: Mukesh Sahni Won’t Contest Polls, Will Campaign For Party Candidates

Last Updated:October 17, 2025, 15:10 IST

Mukesh Sahni of Vikassheel Insaan Party will not contest Bihar polls but will campaign for Santosh Sahni in Gaura Bauram. VIP remains with Mahagathbandhan amid seat-sharing talks.

What goes in Sahani’s favour is that he claims to represent 14% of the population of Bihar, comprising fishermen or boatmen. File pic/PTI

Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahni has announced that he will not be contesting the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. Instead, he said he will campaign for the victory of candidates, including his brother, Santosh Sahni, who is filing his nomination from the Gaura Bauram Assembly seat.

Speaking on the occasion, Mukesh Sahni stated that the party will work towards winning all 243 seats. He also clarified that his political ambition is to become Deputy Chief Minister, not a member of the Rajya Sabha.

As seat-sharing discussions heat up in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections, VIP has reaffirmed its commitment to the Mahagathbandhan, just hours after nearly exiting the alliance over a prolonged deadlock.

The development comes after talks between the VIP and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had reached a stalemate.

The development is seen as crucial for the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, where seat-sharing negotiations remain incomplete even as nomination deadlines approach. The Congress and RJD have yet to finalise the formula for seat allocation, leaving the VIP’s exact role within the Mahagathbandhan unresolved.

Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) is part of the Mahagathbandhan alliance, which comprises Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and other Left parties including CPI, CPI (ML) in Bihar. The alliance is set to give a contest to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), consisting of BJP, JD(U), LJP (RV), HAM among others.

Meanwhile, the NDA moved swiftly, extending an open invitation to Mukesh Sahani. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said, “If Mukesh Sahani wants to join us, he is welcome. We have already finalised our seat-sharing formula, but anyone who wishes to support us is welcome."

Sahani is a prominent leader of Bihar’s Nishad community, which accounts for around 2.5 per cent of the state’s population. He remains a politically significant figure despite limited electoral success.

His ability to mobilise voters across several constituencies has made him a valuable ally for both the Mahagathbandhan and the NDA.

Even as discussions continued, the Congress released its first list of 48 candidates before finalising arrangements with its allies.

The assembly elections will take place in two phases with voting on November 6 and 11, and the counting of votes on November 14.

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