VIP founder Mukesh Sahani comes from EBC community of the Mallahs, who constitute 2.66% of Bihar population. Mahagatbandhan brought him in in the hope of denting NDA's EBC votebank.
Fragmentation of social justice politics has led to emergence of smaller parties without bandwidth to ensure victory but adding to poll numbers when they contest with larger allies.
RJD beat BJP by margin of 36,000 votes in Bochahan, while VIP came third with 29,000. BJP leaders also cite core voters, including sizable Bhumihar community, turning against party.
Sahani once used to make sets for big Bollywood films. Then he rose in Bihar politics to become a minister. Now, his career is on the line after ally BJP didn’t take to his attacks kindly.
VIP chief Mukesh Sahani has had a conflicted relationship with the BJP since the UP polls and is expected to lose ministerial berth, says BJP was ‘threatened’ by his ‘popularity’.
IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
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