Patna: Mukesh Sahani, the head of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) and a prominent figure in Bihar politics, faced a humiliating setback in the 2025 Assembly elections, failing to win a single seat despite contesting 15 constituencies.
Sahani, who had long been considered a key political player in Bihar, had staked his claim for the Deputy Chief Minister position in the Grand Alliance, aligning himself closely with Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the alliance’s Chief Ministerial candidate. His public appearances alongside Yadav during the campaign suggested a strategic partnership aimed at consolidating his social base, particularly among the Nishad and fisherman communities.
In pre-election negotiations, Sahani had initially demanded 60 seats for VIP but eventually agreed to contest 15. The party had previously contested 11 seats in 2020, winning four, which led to Sahani’s ministerial role in the state government. However, three of his MLAs later joined the BJP, weakening VIP’s foothold.
The 2025 results marked a sharp decline in VIP’s political influence. Despite Sahani’s efforts to position himself as a leading representative of the Nishad community and to expand his party’s presence in rural Bihar, voters largely rejected his candidates. Analysts suggest that while Sahani enjoys significant recognition among youth and fishing communities, this support proved insufficient to secure electoral victories.
Sahani’s political journey has been one of striking contrasts. Born into a humble fishing family in Darbhanga, Bihar, he initially worked as a film set designer in Mumbai before entering politics. In 2018, he founded VIP to champion the causes of the Nishad community and other marginalized groups in Bihar. His rise was marked by ambition and strategic alliances, including brief associations with both the NDA and Grand Alliance.
Acknowledging the party’s defeat, Sahni said: “We accept this mandate and I congratulate those who won – the NDA. The votes of mothers and sisters fell in favor of the NDA, which is why they are achieving such a big victory. We will further deliberate on the reasons for our failure.”
