Will Bihar's VIP Secure a Fair Share in Seat Allocation?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- VIP emphasizes the need for a fair share of seats in upcoming elections.
- Strong historical electoral presence in north Bihar is highlighted.
- Past conflicts with the RJD could affect future alliances.
- Negotiations will be crucial for unity against the NDA.
- VIP's demands reflect regional aspirations.
Patna, June 28 (NationPress) The Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) has once again emphasized its request for a significant number of seats in the forthcoming seat-sharing negotiations within the Grand Alliance (INDIA bloc) in Bihar as the 2025 Assembly elections approach.
According to Dev Jyoti, VIP’s national spokesperson, he described the party’s leader, Mukesh Sahani, as an elder brother, with Tejashwi Yadav being the younger brother in their coalition, and expressed optimism that VIP would secure a fair number of seats during the discussions.
“We proposed to our leader, Mukesh Sahani, that we aim to contest on 60 seats. The larger the seat count, the more substantial our share will be. Ultimately, the decision lies with the elder and younger brothers. We are confident that we will be allocated satisfactory seats once the seat-sharing formula is established,” Dev Jyoti conveyed to IANS.
He underscored the VIP’s robust presence in north Bihar, especially in Tirhut and Mithilanchal, referencing the party’s previous electoral successes in Bochaha, Simri Bakhtiyarpur, and Kurhani.
“These votes are attributed to Mukesh Sahani. We garnered over 20,000 votes in Bochaha. In Kurhani, had we received just 1,000 more votes, the BJP would have lost to the RJD. We merit respectable seats due to the support we contribute to the alliance,” he asserted.
The VIP was part of the Grand Alliance during the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, but left after conflicts regarding seat distribution with the Tejashwi Yadav-led RJD.
Mukesh Sahani accused Tejashwi of betrayal and subsequently allied with the BJP, contesting on 11 seats and winning 4, although Sahani himself lost his seat.
Dev Jyoti’s statements followed a joint INDIA bloc press conference in Patna, signaling a renewed alignment of the VIP with the Grand Alliance, while stressing that clarity in seat-sharing will be crucial to prevent past conflicts.
The VIP’s demand for respectable seats indicates potential friction points within the alliance as it aims to unite against the NDA in Bihar, balancing the aspirations of regional partners.