Is Mukesh Sahni preparing to topple Nitish Kumar?

'At the moment, we are supporting the Nitish Kumar-led government.'
'When the time comes for this government to fall, it will.'

Bihar's Animal and Fisheries Resources Minister Mukesh Sahni -- he also heads the Vikassheel Insaan Party, an ally of the National Democratic Alliance in the state -- is in the news after he targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party, the largest party in the ruling coalition, for not giving his party even a single seat in the coming Bihar legislative council polls.

An angry Sahni hinted at his plans to oppose the BJP in the coming days.

Sahni, a 41-year-old Bollywood set designer-turned-politician, is trying hard to make a space for himself in Bihar's tough caste-ridden politics as well as in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.

Sahni, who calls himself the son of a Mallah (the community comprises boatmen and fishermen), is keen to expand his support base in his caste -- Nishad and Sahni -- which has a sizeable presence in north Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

A school dropout, he left his village in Darbhanga district at the age of 18 and headed to Mumbai, attracted by the glamour of Bollywood. After struggling for years, he finally established himself as a set designer and made good money.

In the 2015 Bihar assembly election, Sahni allied with the NDA which was defeated by the newly minted combination of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Janata Dal-United.

In 2018, Sahni formally launched his party and contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election as part of the Grand Alliance, but failed to win a seat.

Speaking to Rediff.com Senior Contributor M I Khan, Sahni says, "It is a big misconception that our community -- which includes Sahnis and Nishads -- are loyal and favour any coalition. They are not slaves."

Were you shocked when the ruling BJP-Janata Dal-United combine decided to share all 24 vacant Bihar legislative council seats between themselves and not leave a single seat for your party, the Vikassheel Insaan Party?

As an ally of the ruling combine, the others and I expected seat-sharing as per our numbers and strength.

But the BJP-JD-U combination divided the seats between themselves without consulting or discussing with us. This is against coalition politics.

There should be a consensus decision. In politics, mutual trust and unity are a must.

The fact that the BJP-JD-U combination has shown their stand by not sparing even a single council seat for our party has surprised us.

What is your next course of action?

My thought process is clear. I will not bow to pressure from BJP leaders and agree with everything they say.

I have my own party, my own agenda and my own way of politics. And I have already shared whatever I wanted to. My party will contest all 24 seats on its own. VIP will also contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections alone.

As far as the future is concerned, how can I reveal my next course of action in advance? It is not possible.

My next step will be revealed when I put it in action.

A political party never shares its next course of action before executing it.

Political circles are abuzz that VIP may threaten the state government's survival if it withdraws its support.

Right now, I am part of the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar. I can't say anything about speculations and rumours.

If there is any plan to walk away from the NDA, it is part of our strategy to not to reveal it.

Sarkar girayenge bhi to thodi kisi ko bolenge, abhi to hum Nitish Kumar sarkar ke saath hai. Girane ka time hoga to gir jayega (If we are planning to topple this government, we will not share those plans with anyone. At the moment, we are supporting the Nitish Kumar-led government. When the time comes for this government to fall, it will)

What do you mean by girane ka time hoga to gir jayega?

It is for others to understand. I have nothing further to say.

Some BJP leaders have dared you to walk away from the NDA.

In coalition politics, the importance and role of both big and small allies should be alike.

My party has four members, including three MLAs and one MLC. Its role is no less important than the BJP, which has 74 seats.

Without our support, the NDA government could not have been formed and will not run.

We are working on the ground and fighting for our causes. We don't care what others have to say.

VIP will contest alone in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections and the results will show what kind of support we have there.

We will formally launch a branch of our party in Jharkhand next month on the anniversary of Jubba Sahni's martyrdom; he was an icon of our Sahni community.

In Bihar, we will continue to expand and strengthen our party network. Hum log sangharsh karna jante hai (We know how to struggle).

It is a big misconception that our community -- which includes Sahnis and Nishads -- are loyal and favour any coalition. They are not slaves.

You have reportedly said you will not say 'Jai Modi' or 'Jai Yogi'.

Let me explain.

Some BJP leaders have said if Mukesh Sahni wants to remain part of the coalition, he has to say 'Jai Modi' and 'Jai Yogi'.

Let them not remain under any misconception.

If the BJP fulfils our demand for reservation, we are more than willing to say 'Jai Modi'. if they don't, we will shout slogans against them.

I don't care what BJP leaders have to say.

I will do what is politically right for my party and our supporters.

You recently praised RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and claimed that you follow RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Why this sudden change when you so dramatically stopped supporting the RJD in 2020? (Do read: 'Tejaswi wanted to end my political career')

What's new in this?

I have repeatedly said Tejashwi Yadav is like my younger brother.

As far as Laluji is concerned, his politics of social justice has inspired and motivated me.

I have always regarded him as my natural leader.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com