Deputy CM face Sahani’s party draws a blank | Patna News
Patna: The assembly poll results delivered an interesting verdict — both amusing and strange! Vikasshel Insaan Party (VIP) founder Mukesh Sahani was named as INDIA bloc’s deputy CM face at a joint press conference of opposition INDIA bloc partners last month, but his party was allotted 15 seats to contest under the seat-sharing deal. Strangely, his party failed to open an account this time.Sahani initially wanted 60 seats to contest plus the post of the deputy CM, but the INDIA bloc coordination committee chairman, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, was not ready to oblige. The issue of seat sharing remained pending even after the dates of elections were announced and the NDA leaders hit the campaign trail. Tejashwi was willing to accommodate Sahani in the opposition alliance since the Mallah community, which formed roughly 3% of the total vote bank, came from the Extremely Backward Class, the largest bloc with 36.01% votes.As time ran fast, Sahani was ultimately named the deputy CM face at a press conference with Tejashwi as the CM face. Issues settled, both leaders left for joint poll campaigns, sharing one helicopter. However, his party failed to open an account.But Sahani doesn’t hold any grudge. “There is no problem right now. Those who won deserve congratulations. We will review everything in the coming days and return to the people. One day, the public will open our account,” Sahani told the media on Friday.Attributing his party’s rout to the NDA’s aggressive “cash outreach to women voters,” he said, “Voters did not connect with our message. They trusted Nitish ji and Modi ji, and I congratulate both of them,” he said.During the 2020 assembly elections, Sahani’s VIP fielded candidates on 11 seats, and the party registered victory in 4 seats. However, at that time, Sahani was with BJP. In the NDA govt, Sahani got the fisheries minister’s post, but in 2022 the govt fell, and Sahani also became disillusioned with BJP. Later, Sahani became part of the INDIA bloc, but his switch failed to end his troubles.
