NEW DELHI: The smallest member of Mahagathbandhan in Bihar has made its presence felt in an otherwise trainwreck of an election for the opposition. In a state crowded with sub-regional satraps who are identified with their castes, I P Gupta of Indian Inclusive Party has come into the limelight by successfully mobilising members of castes that have long been on the margins.Gupta (55) won from Saharsa by defeating his BJP rival by over 2,000 votes, marking a successful electoral debut for his party which had contested three seats as an MGB constituent.Bihar Assembly Poll Results: NDA Touches 200-Seat Lead, Congress Intensifies SIR, Vote Chori AttacksIt was an outcome that eluded better-known parties helmed by much bigger names. Jan Suraaj Party of Prashant Kishor and Vikashsheel Insaan Party of Mukesh Sahani, the latter an RJD ally like Gupta, are two such examples. While Kishor fielded candidates in over 235 seats, VIP contested 12. Both parties drew a blank.Gupta quit Congress in 2023 to champion the cause of Tanti-Tatwa, which falls under Extremely Backward Classes and is estimated to be 1-2% of the population, and pushed for a separate quota for them along with members of the Paan community. He blamed the state’s NDA govt for the Supreme Court verdict that had overturned the move to grant SC quota to Tanti-Tatwa (historically weavers) and put the community back in the EBC category.He showed a knack for mobilisation by organising a successful rally in Patna’s huge Gandhi Maidan in April, coming to the notice of parties of all hues in the election year. He said he was contacted by formations from across the political spectrum, from NDA to AIMIM and MGB, before he reached a deal with the opposition alliance. He held meetings with Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav and accused NDA of trying to sabotage his politics while holding talks with him.An engineer who ran a business before plunging into politics, Gupta’s stock is likely to rise in a state where mobilisation along caste lines is central to political shifts.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNIA Arrests Alleged Aide Of ‘Suicide Bomber’ Umar Nabi In Delhi Terror AttackEAM Jaishankar Meets Qatar’s Top Leadership In Doha, Reaffirms Commitment To Stronger TiesSGPC Mulls Banning Lone Women In Pilgrim Jathas After ‘Missing’ Punjab Woman Marries Pakistani ManRSS-Linked Youth Shot Dead In Punjab’s Firozpur, Probe UnderwayKerala: RSS Worker Dies By Suicide After BJP Denies Local Body Poll Ticket In Thiruvananthapuram1 Dead, Several Feared Trapped As Portion Of Stone Mine Collapses In UP’s Sonbhadra; Rescue Ops On”I have no family…” Rohini Acharya Cuts Ties With Lalu Clan, Exits Politics Post-RJD DefeatRK Singh Slams Bihar BJP Suspension, Says He Only Opposed Tickets to Criminal Candidates‘Premature to Speculate’: Tharoor Hits Back at Farooq Abdullah Over Operation Sindoor Remarks‘Nitish Still X-Factor’ Pavan Verma Decodes Why Jan Suraaj Couldn’t Break Through in Bihar Polls123PhotostoriesHow Govinda’s 90s brilliance shaped Bollywood’s era of comedy, charm and danceHow to create balance between love and independenceHair growth to bone health: 5 benefits of adding garden cress seeds to your dietTrending maang tikka designs brides must explore this wedding season5 natural foods that help gain weight fast10 psychological behaviours that reveal a person’s real intentionsThyroid cancer on the rise in US: 5 symptoms women should know5 home exercises for Parkinson’s diseaseJournaling for beginners: 5 simple ways to start your de-stress journey5 ways to deepen connection without sending long emotional texts123Hot PicksAlinagar Election ResultRaghopur Election ResultBihar Election Result 2025Gold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingKayla NicoleArjun TendulkarJames Harden girlfriendDubai Prince Sheikh Hamdan Net WorthRCB IPL RetentionBengaluru Techie Shoes MissingUS VisaIslam makhachev net worthDelhi BlastCharlie Mcavoy Injury
NEW DELHI: The smallest member of Mahagathbandhan in Bihar has made its presence felt in an otherwise trainwreck of an election for the opposition. In a state crowded with sub-regional satraps who are identified with their castes, I P Gupta of Indian Inclusive Party has come into the limelight by successfully mobilising members of castes that have long been on the margins.Gupta (55) won from Saharsa by defeating his BJP rival by over 2,000 votes, marking a successful electoral debut for his party which had contested three seats as an MGB constituent.
It was an outcome that eluded better-known parties helmed by much bigger names. Jan Suraaj Party of Prashant Kishor and Vikashsheel Insaan Party of Mukesh Sahani, the latter an RJD ally like Gupta, are two such examples. While Kishor fielded candidates in over 235 seats, VIP contested 12. Both parties drew a blank.Gupta quit Congress in 2023 to champion the cause of Tanti-Tatwa, which falls under Extremely Backward Classes and is estimated to be 1-2% of the population, and pushed for a separate quota for them along with members of the Paan community. He blamed the state’s NDA govt for the Supreme Court verdict that had overturned the move to grant SC quota to Tanti-Tatwa (historically weavers) and put the community back in the EBC category.He showed a knack for mobilisation by organising a successful rally in Patna’s huge Gandhi Maidan in April, coming to the notice of parties of all hues in the election year. He said he was contacted by formations from across the political spectrum, from NDA to AIMIM and MGB, before he reached a deal with the opposition alliance. He held meetings with Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav and accused NDA of trying to sabotage his politics while holding talks with him.An engineer who ran a business before plunging into politics, Gupta’s stock is likely to rise in a state where mobilisation along caste lines is central to political shifts.
