New party on poll horizon

Patna: A new party will strike root in Bihar this October, close to election time, but unlike others that often burn out once the flow of money stops, this one is going to be around.

Mukesh Sahni, national president of the Nishad Vikash Sangh, announced on Thursday that he would float his own political party at Gandhi Maidan during his Nishad Arakshan Maharailla. He made the announcement after holding a core committee meeting of the Sangh at a city hotel.

Sahni has his roots in Supaul Bazar of Bihar’s Darbhanga district. The school dropout runs a production house called R M Film Production. He has been based in Mumbai’s Goregaon locality for 18 years now and sources close to him say he is worth a whopping Rs 1,500 crore.

Sahni was the face of the 2014 Lok Sabha election in Bihar because of his money power. He has met BJP president Amit Shah and chief minister Nitish Kumar but not RJD chief Lalu Prasad yet.

The leader of the fishermen community has started building base by organising motorcycle rallies across the state to demand inclusion of Nishads, Mallahs and Nonias among Scheduled Castes.

He spends immensely on rallies in Bihar. A few months back he had said he could fill up Gandhi Maidan by calling people using his money power.

Asked about his claim, Sahni said: “I’m happy, people accept Nishad has the money too. It proves our community won’t spend life on the road. Today, our community can hold meetings in five-star hotels like the Maurya”

He said his party will field candidates in all 40 seats in 2019 but will compromise if the NDA or Grand Alliance give him at least six seats. He claimed fishermen will vote whoever he backs.

The only leader from the fishermen community to have made a mark in Bihar politics is Jai Narain Prasad Nishad, former MP from Muzaffapur. Now, his son Ajay Nishad is the BJP MP from the same constituency but he does not have his father’s image.

Courtesy: The Telegraph