Patna: Once positioned as a rising force in Bihar’s caste-driven politics, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahni — popularly known as the Son of Mallah — faced a complete electoral collapse in the 2025 Assembly elections. Despite demanding 60 seats and projecting himself as the Deputy Chief Minister face of the Grand Alliance, Sahni contested 15 seats and failed to win even one. His party secured just 1.37% of the vote share, a setback for a leader representing the Mallah (Nishad) community, which accounts for 2.6% of Bihar’s population.
His political decline has prompted a deeper look into Sahni’s journey — from a school dropout who fled to Mumbai at 18, to a successful film-set designer associated with major Bollywood projects, and eventually, to a politician whose ambitions outpaced his electoral strength.
Demanded Deputy CM Post 27 Times, Settled for 15 Seats
During seat-sharing negotiations within the Grand Alliance, Sahni demanded 60 seats for his party and repeatedly insisted on being named the Deputy CM candidate. According to alliance insiders, he staked this claim 27 times, causing unease among senior RJD and Congress leaders.
Eventually, after multiple rounds of talks led by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, the Grand Alliance allotted him 15 seats and officially projected him as the Deputy CM face. The outcome, however, was disastrous — VIP lost all 15 seats.
From Supaul to Mumbai: The Making of a Film Industry Entrepreneur
Born in Supaul, Darbhanga, Sahni studied only up to Class 8. Facing taunts from his family about his earning capacity, he left home in 1999 and fled to Mumbai with his childhood friend Dhurran Sahni. He stayed with Pawan Sahu, who helped him find work.
His first job was at a cosmetic shop earning Rs 900 a month. When that didn’t work out, he started selling bags on the roadside, only to return to his old job. A twist of fate came when a nearby glass-framing shop needed craftsmen for a film set. Sahni was sent to inspect the work — and found his calling.
He soon began working in set decoration and glass framing for film productions. His big breakthrough came when he secured work on the glass sets for Shah Rukh Khan’s film Devdas. This opened doors to major contracts for TV serials, advertisements, events, and films. Sahni eventually launched his company, Mukesh Film Works Pvt Ltd, and built a successful business.
Entry Into Politics Through Community Mobilisation
On returning to his village in 2014–15, Sahni was struck by the lack of development. He began organising community events, arranging lighting for Chhath Puja, and inviting Bhojpuri and Bollywood artists for cultural programs.
He founded the Nishad Vikas Sangh in 2015 and pushed for reservation for boatmen. By 2014, he was already hosting large Nishad community conferences, including a major gathering at Raj Maidan, Darbhanga, where he branded himself as the “Son of Mallah.”
His political journey formally began with the BJP, for which he campaigned across Bihar in 2015. After disagreements over reservation and representation, he formed VIP on November 4, 2018.
Early Wins and Sudden Setbacks
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, VIP contested three seats under the Grand Alliance but lost all. In 2020, after seat-sharing issues with the RJD, Sahni joined the NDA. Out of 11 seats contested by his party, VIP won four. Sahni, however, lost from Simri Bakhtiyarpur. He was later made a minister in the Nitish Kumar government and given the Fisheries and Animal Husbandry portfolio.
His fortunes dipped again when ties with the BJP soured. Three of his four MLAs defected to the BJP, and his party was reduced to zero strength. He was eventually dropped from the cabinet.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, VIP contested three seats under the Grand Alliance but again lost all.
2025 Elections: Ambition Meets Harsh Reality
Despite past setbacks, Sahni demanded 60 seats and the Deputy CM position for the 2025 Assembly polls. His frequent public claims — made on dates including July 3, July 30, August 7, August 10, September 5, September 13, and October 6 — triggered irritation among senior alliance leaders.
Eventually, he was allotted 15 seats. The results were stark: VIP did not win a single seat.
Sahni campaigned using helicopters and large public shows, but analysts say his appeal was limited outside pockets of the Nishad community.
What Next for Mukesh Sahni?
Attempts to seek Sahni’s comment were unsuccessful.
Political expert Priyadarshi Ranjan said Sahni’s strategy had misfired:
“The Nishad politics that Mukesh Sahni built was traditionally aligned with the NDA. By aligning with the Grand Alliance mainly for the Deputy CM post, he drifted away from his community’s natural political space.”
With no MLAs, negligible vote share, and strained relationships across alliances, Sahni faces one of the toughest phases of his political career. Whether he returns to grassroots mobilisation, rebuilds his caste base, or attempts a political realignment will decide his next chapter.
