Patna: The Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), a constituent of the Grand Alliance, kicked off its election bid today with a show of strength, as six of its candidates successfully filed their nomination papers for the first phase of the assembly elections.
Despite the confidence shown by the nominees, the day was marked by visible friction within the Grand Alliance over seat allocation, centered around VIP President Mukesh Sahni.
Nominations Filed Despite Sahni’s Dissent
The party’s national spokesperson, Dev Jyoti, confirmed the nominations and stated the VIP is entering the contest with a strong presence. “Our party has always championed the cause of the poor, Dalits, the exploited, and the oppressed,” he said, claiming the people of Bihar are ready to vote for a change in government.
The six candidates who filed their nominations are:
- Bhogendra Sahni (Aurai)
- Rakesh Kumar (Baruraj)
- Santosh Sahni (Gaurabauram)
- Umesh Sahni (Darbhanga Urban)
- Ganesh Bharti (Kusheshwarsthan)
- Naveen Nishad (Alamnagar)
The party also continues to list Kesaria, Katihar, Lauriya, Sikti, Nirmali, Aurai, Bihpur, and Gopalpur among seats they are confident of winning.
Seat-Sharing Spat Sees Late Breakthrough
The initial optimism was heavily tempered by the position taken by party chief Mukesh Sahni. Sahni was reportedly unhappy with the support received from the Grand Alliance, feeling the allocation did not meet the party’s expectations, echoing similar grievances from the 2020 elections.
Sahni had clarified earlier that he would not be contesting the elections due to the seat-sharing impasse. Efforts to placate the leader intensified between Thursday and Friday.
However, a late-day development suggested a potential breakthrough. By Friday afternoon, news began circulating that Sahni was likely to secure “a dozen and a half seats,” signaling a significant negotiation victory. A final decision on a few additional seats is pending, after which Mukesh Sahni is expected to release the official and complete list of his party’s candidates.
The late resolution, if confirmed, allows the VIP to officially proceed with its campaign, integrating fully into the Grand Alliance’s strategy, though the public dissent highlights underlying tensions over resource distribution among coalition partners.
