The unexpected result of the Bochaha Assembly by-poll result has upset political equations in Bihar. The coming together of otherwise polarised Other Backward Class Yadavs and upper caste Bhumihars with the support of Extremely Backward Sahanis/ Mallahs (fishermen) voters has posed a challenge to the electoral surge of BJP in the State.
The BJP had no reason to foresee the result, more so after it become the single largest party with 77 MLAs in the Assembly after all three MLAs of the Mukesh Sahani-led Vikashil Insaan Party (VIP) switched over recently. But the party’s decision thereafter to request that Mr. Sahani be dropped from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Cabinet proved a costly mistake.
The BJP apparently failed to guage the impact that an offended Mr. Sahani could have on the crucial 35,000 Sahani/ Mallah votes in Bochaha. Despite having as many as 35 party MLAs and several ministers covering the constituency in an intense campaign, down to the block level, the BJP’s Baby Kumari lost by over 36,000 votes.
