Political Drama in Patna: How Mukesh Sahani Secured Deputy CM Position in Bihar's Mahagathbandhan Alliance

Tejashwi Yadav and Mukesh Sahani (R), the chief ministerial and deputy chief ministerial faces of the Mahagathbandhan alliance.

What was intended to be a straightforward announcement of Tejashwi Yadav as the Mahagathbandhan's chief ministerial candidate at Patna's Hotel Maurya on Thursday morning transformed into an unexpected political drama.

As the scheduled 11:30 am press conference time passed, alliance leaders were noticeably absent. Behind closed doors, they were engaged in urgent discussions following Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) leader Mukesh Sahani's eleventh-hour demand to be named Deputy Chief Minister.

According to sources, Sahani refused to participate in the press conference without securing a "respectable position" in the alliance. He reportedly argued that if the Mahagathbandhan truly championed social justice, it should offer him not merely seats but a significant leadership role, citing his track record of advocating for Bihar's marginalized communities.

The drama unfolded in the hotel suites where alliance leaders, including Congress's Ashok Gehlot, had gathered before the scheduled announcement. While Tejashwi Yadav arrived at the meeting point, Sahani's absence sent a clear message: if Yadav would be the face of the alliance, he demanded to be the second-in-command.

Sahani's ultimatum threatened the coalition's fragile unity. "I agreed to fewer than 25 seats because I thought I would receive the Deputy Chief Minister position," he declared. "Without this role, how can I face my supporters and ask for their votes?"

The situation prompted immediate intervention from RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav, who assured Sahani that every party would have representation in the government if the alliance won. When this failed to satisfy Sahani, crisis management began in earnest.

Gehlot contacted Congress headquarters in Delhi, which approved Sahani's deputy chief ministerial candidacy, recognizing the importance of securing votes from the influential Mallah community. Left leader Dipankar Bhattacharya also consented to the arrangement.

Thus, Mukesh Sahani—who began his career as a Bollywood set designer—was elevated to potentially become Bihar's second-most powerful political figure. In an exclusive interview with NDTV afterward, Sahani denied applying pressure tactics to secure his promotion, insisting, "There was no need for pressure. The announcement may have been delayed, but our alliance is more transparent than our opponents."

He contrasted the Mahagathbandhan's clarity with the ruling BJP-JDU alliance: "They're merely saying they will fight under Nitish Kumar's leadership, but nothing is clear. Here, we've established who will be Chief Minister and who will be Deputy."

Sahani also revealed he had previously declined the Deputy Chief Minister position after the 2020 election, when his party belonged to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. "Had it not been for us, Nitish Kumar would not have become Chief Minister in 2020. I was offered the deputy's post then but turned it down."

Political analysts suggest Sahani strategically timed his demand. Having already secured 15 seats after initially demanding 24, plus promises of two legislative council seats and one Rajya Sabha seat, sources indicate he capitalized on his leverage to claim the deputy chief minister position.

The Mahagathbandhan's willingness to accommodate these demands reflects Sahani's electoral value. His influence within the Mallah, Sahani, and Nishad communities—representing approximately nine percent of Bihar's electorate—could prove decisive in close contests, particularly in the Mithilanchal and Seemanchal regions.

Facing Sahani's threat to abandon the coalition if his demands weren't met, alliance leaders calculated that the potential loss of these community votes outweighed the cost of offering him the deputy chief ministerial candidacy.

However, Tejashwi Yadav clarified that Sahani would not be the only deputy chief ministerial candidate, indicating others would be named to satisfy various alliance members. "We will include others from different communities," Yadav told reporters following the announcement.

The formal declaration of Yadav as the chief ministerial face also ended speculation about Congress's support for its ally. Ashok Gehlot stated that Rahul Gandhi had personally endorsed Tejashwi Yadav, describing him as "young" and "committed" to Bihar's development.