Published: Nov 6, 2025, 6:36 AM IST

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sharply criticized its former ally, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), after the party withdrew its candidate from the Gaura Bauram assembly seat in Bihar and extended support to expelled Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Afzal Ali Khan. The BJP claimed that the decision by VIP, led by Mukesh Sahani, betrays the interests of the Nishad community, a key voter base in the state, while the NDA aims to consolidate support among Nishads ahead of the elections.

Background

In the 2020 Bihar assembly elections, VIP contested as an NDA ally, securing 11 seats to contest and winning four, including Simri Bakhtiyarpur, Gaura Bauram, Alauli, and Balinagar. Gaura Bauram has historically been a stronghold of the Nishad community (fishermen community), and expectations were high that Mukesh Sahani would contest from here. However, he chose not to contest personally and instead fielded his brother, Santosh Sahani.

The RJD, which is part of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), also announced a candidate for Gaura Bauram, despite being an ally of VIP. In a surprising move, VIP decided to support Afzal Ali Khan, who had been expelled by RJD for six years for not following the party line. Consequently, Santosh Sahani withdrew his nomination, leaving the seat open to the Opposition candidate.

Political Fallout

BJP leaders expressed discontent over VIP’s decision, arguing that the move compromises the Nishad community’s interests. A senior BJP leader said, “It is strange that VIP chose to compromise… and are pitching for an expelled RJD leader over a Nishad. The Nishads expected representation from their own community, and this decision has not gone down well among them.”

The BJP sees this as an opportunity to consolidate the Nishad vote, which is spread across the state and has significant influence in 22 of Bihar’s 243 assembly seats. Additionally, the party has fielded representatives from the Nishad community in 35 constituencies, emphasizing its claim to uphold the community’s political and social interests.

Union Minister of State Raj Bhushan Nishad criticized VIP’s move, saying, “Under pressure from the RJD, VIP supremo Mukesh Sahani has surrendered before the Congress and the RJD. It was because of the RJD’s pressure that the VIP candidate Santosh Sahani had to withdraw from the election in Gaura Bauram. The RJD–Congress have always deceived the Mallah community. Real respect for the Mallah community is given only by the NDA.”

VIP’s Justification

Mukesh Sahani defended the decision on social media, stating that the move was aimed at ensuring the victory of the Opposition Grand Alliance. In a Facebook post, he wrote, “This is a larger battle. It’s not about one seat or one leader. Our focus is on forming a Mahagathbandhan government.”

The VIP leadership framed the withdrawal as a strategic decision to strengthen the coalition’s chances in Bihar rather than an abandonment of the Nishad community, emphasizing a broader electoral perspective.

Electoral Implications

The Gaura Bauram seat, located in Darbhanga district, is now set for a contest between the BJP candidate Sujit Kumarand the Grand Alliance-backed Afzal Ali Khan. Analysts note that the move could influence voter sentiment among the Nishad community, who may feel marginalized by VIP’s support of an expelled RJD leader.

According to Bihar caste survey data, Nishads, classified as an Extremely Backward Class (EBC), constitute roughly 5% of the electorate, making them a decisive voter block in several constituencies. The BJP’s strategy of fielding community representatives and highlighting VIP’s withdrawal aims to consolidate votes among Nishads, particularly in areas where the party faces stiff competition from the Mahagathbandhan.

Political observers suggest that the incident could reshape local alliances, with VIP’s perceived compromise potentially benefiting the BJP. The first phase of Bihar’s assembly elections, which began on Thursday, will be closely watched for signs of voter reaction to VIP’s withdrawal and the BJP’s outreach efforts among the Nishad community.

In conclusion, while VIP has framed its withdrawal as a move to support the broader alliance, the BJP is positioning itself as the protector of Nishad interests, seeking to reclaim the community’s loyalty in key constituencies. The outcome at Gaura Bauram may serve as a litmus test for the influence of community-based voting dynamics in Bihar’s ongoing elections.