Darbhanga (Bihar) [India], October 21 : Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) Chief Mukesh Sahani on Tuesday refuted claims that his party's candidate from the Tarapur Assembly Constituency had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He clarified that the individual in question, Sakaldeo Bind, had previously contested as an independent and is not a VIP candidate, though he has now extended his support to the BJP.
This comes after, on October 20, Sakaldeo Bind, said to be a VIP candidate from Tarapur, joined the BJP and offered his support to Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary, who is also contesting from the same constituency.
Speaking to the reporters in Darbhanga, Mukesh Sahani had reached out to inaugurate the election office of VIP candidate from Darbhanga, Umesh Sahani. He affirmed Mahagathbandhan's victory in the Bihar assembly elections.
"Our candidate has not joined the BJP; you are mistaken. They had contested as independent candidates and have supported the BJP. As you know, today we are in the Darbhanga district. Mahagathbandhan's candidate Umesh Sahani is contesting from Darbhanga Urban. We have come here today to attend the inauguration of his office and to wish him good luck. Our Mahagathbandhan leaders are present for this event, and with strength, the work that hasn't been done for the past 20 years is now going to bring about change," Mukesh Sahani told reporters.
Earlier on Monday, the VIP released a list of 15 candidates, which included prominent leaders such as Santosh Sahani from Gaura Bauram and Umesh Sahani from Darbhanga Urban seats.
Other names include Naveen Kumar from Alamnagar, Ganesh Bharti Sada from Kusheshwarsthan, Bhogendra Sahni (Aurai), Rakesh Kumar (Baruraj), and Bihar state president Bal Govind Bind from Chainpur. Additional candidates include Rankaushal Pratap Singh (Lauriya), Shashi Bhushan Singh (Sugauli), Varun Vijay (Kesaria), Harinarayan Pramanik (Sikti), Saurav Kumar Agrawal (Katihar), Arpana Kumari Mandal (Bihpur), Prem Sagar (Gopalpur), and Bindu Gulab Yadav (Babubarhi).
Polling for the Bihar elections 2025 will take place on November 6 and 11. The results will be announced on November 14.