After adding three MLAs of VIP, BJP has become the single largest party in the state with 77 seats, way more than CM Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) which has 43 seats.
The chief of Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) and minister of animal and husbandry in Bihar government, Mukesh Sahni is in a staggering situation as his three MLAs joined hands with BJP on Wednesday.
After adding three MLAs of VIP, BJP has become the single largest party in the state. Even the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) has 43 seats.
Sahni became cabinet minister in Nitish government after winning MLC seat by the support of BJP. If he is not elected again, he will have to give up his ministerial position as his tenure expires in July this year.
“It is the chief minister’s prerogative to keep me in his Cabinet. I was inducted by him and it must be decided by him whether I should remain or be dropped. I would continue working for the people as long as he wishes,” Sahni said when asked about his resignation.
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In the beginning of the Bihar assembly polls, Sahni’s party VIP was with Mahagathbandhan, alliance led by Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD). But later on, because of the tussle on seat share, he jumped into NDA and contested on 11 seats. His party won total 4 seats, though the party chief himself, Sahni, was defeated by RJD’s Yusuf Salahuddin.
Bihar’s BJP chief, Sanjay Jaiswal reacted to the matter and said, “He entered the electoral contest in UP against us. We raised no objections. Even the JD(U) did so. Things turned ugly in the run-up to Bochahan assembly (which has fallen vacant upon the death of VIP MLA Musafir Paswan) by-elections.”
Jaiswal futhter added, “BJP had offered to field its candidate Baby Kumari on VIP symbol but Sahani was adamant on giving ticket to the late MLA’s son Amar Paswan, who has ended up as the RJD nominee.”
“The BJP is against this practice of mindlessly promoting undeserving family members of political leaders. Amar Paswan had struck a deal with the RJD two months back and was double-crossing Sahni which the latter was refusing to understand,” Jaiwsal furthered.
On the allegation of merging his party into BJP within six months pf winning 2020 assembly election, Sahni answered, “My decision to join NDA followed a closed-door meeting with Union Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. If he comes forward and says there was such a deal, I will yield.”
Mr. Sahni who had founded his party in 2018, has campaigned for BJP in 2015 Bihar Assembly election.
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