The focus was to be on Tejashwi Yadav, for at 11 am (or a little past) on Thursday, the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader was to be named the Mahagathbandhan‘s chief ministerial face – an elevation allies Congress had hemmed and hawed over for days – for next month’s Bihar Assembly election.
But, as the clock ticked past noon, the opposition alliance’s leadership were MIA.
They were, in fact, in an emergency behind-the-scenes huddle because of a last-gasp, ‘make me Deputy Chief Minister’ bombshell thrown by Vikassheel Insaan Party boss Mukesh Sahani.
Sources said Sahani claimed a ‘respectable place’ in the alliance based on his record of fighting for the rights of Bihar’s marginalised communities, including fishermen and women. “If the ‘grand alliance’ talks about social justice, then we want a share in positions… not just seats,” he reportedly declared.
That prompted arguments and threatened to derail fragile harmony within the bloc.
And, as it turned out, Sahani had his way. The ‘hard-working’ VIP boss was announced as such after the Mahagathbandhan leadership, led by the Congress’ Ashok Gehlot, re-assembled.
Before that Tejashwi Yadav was announced as the chief ministerial candidate.
The story, though, swiftly became about the VIP boss.
Sources have now told NDTV Sahani – who could transition from a Bollywood set designer to become (potentially) the second-most powerful man in Bihar – picked his moment well.
READ | Ahead Of Bihar Poll, The Political Significance Of Mukesh Sahani
Having already held the alliance hostage over seat-sharing talks – he demanded 24 seats before settling for 15 and the promise of two in the legislative council and one in the Rajya Sabha – sources said Sahani then arm-twisted his way to being named Tejashwi Yadav’s deputy.
READ | Bihar Opposition Dodges Bullet After Key Ally Settles For 15 Seats
Why did the opposition alliance allow this?
Possibly because Sahani, 44, will be expected to bring in votes from the Mallah, Sahani, and Nishad communities, whose nine per cent electoral weight could tilt the race in their favour.
The Mallah community, a sub-caste of the Nishad community, is spread across Bihar but has influence in certain constituencies, particularly in the Mithilanchal and Seemanchal regions.
Sahani had made it clear he was prepared to walk out of if his demands weren’t fulfilled.
Could the Mahagathbandhan have let him go?
Maybe. As of now Sahani has only two options – remain a part of the opposition grouping or contest solo, or at most with a smaller alliance, and, most likely, end up in political oblivion.
VIP chief Mukesh Sahani is the INDIA bloc’s Deputy Chief Minister face (File).
But right now, before the election, with the promise of support from three separate communities on the plate, was his time to strike, and he took the opportunity well.
Allowing him to quit could have cost the Mahagathbandhan dearly. Keeping him in the fold, even if it meant giving up a high-profile post like Deputy Chief Minister, was worth the risk.
Sahani, however, will not be the only deputy chief ministerial candidate, with others likely to be named to satisfy the ambitions of high-profile members of the opposition alliance.
Meanwhile, Yadav being named the chief ministerial face ends speculation the Congress is unwilling to endorse its ally. Yadav, Gehlot said, had been personally backed by Rahul Gandhi.
The ex-Rajasthan Chief Minister, rushed to Bihar to resolve differences over the alliance’s campaign face, said Tejashwi Yadav had been chosen because he is “young” and “committed”.
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