PATNA: Mukesh Sahani's anointment on Thursday as deputy CM face of Bihar's Grand Alliance was as dramatic and meteoric as a script in Bollywood where he once worked as a set designer.
It was long anticipated that RJD's Tejashwi Prasad would be the alliance's chief ministerial face.
But it was the announcement about Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) founder Sahani that stole the limelight at a joint news conference of the alliance.
"Historic announcement... heartfelt gratitude to all colleagues of Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) for trusting the son of an atipichhda (most backward) society for the post of deputy CM. This decision will become a new example of social justice and equal representation in Bihar. Hail the great alliance, hail Bihar!" Sahani wrote in a post.
The leap is remarkable for the 44-year-old, often referred to as a "Mallah son (fisherman's son)". Born in Darbhanga in 1981, Sahani left for Mumbai at 19 with big dreams. He started out as a helper in a general store there and later learnt to cut glasses before entering Bollywood set designing as an assistant. Gradually, he began working independently.
But Sahani's heart was always in Bihar. Returning in 2013, he entered politics in 2014 and launched VIP in 2018. The path was rocky. In 2020, feeling betrayed by the Grand Alliance over seat allocations, Sahani walked out and briefly joined NDA. By 2022, after his three MLAs defected to BJP, he returned to Grand Alliance.
On Thursday, VIP vice-president Anand Madhukar hailed Sahani's elevation as "monumental".
"It will boost the morale of all EBCs, who comprise around 37% of the state's population," Madhukar said, highlighting the social significance of Sahani's rise in Bihar's politics.
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