NEW DELHI: The smallest faction of the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar has made a significant impact in what has otherwise been a disastrous election for the opposition. In a state filled with sub-regional leaders associated with their respective castes, I P Gupta of the Indian Inclusive Party has gained attention by effectively mobilizing members of castes that have historically been marginalized. Gupta (55) secured victory in Saharsa, defeating his BJP opponent by more than 2,000 votes, marking a successful electoral debut for his party, which contested three seats as part of the MGB alliance. This achievement was one that larger, more established parties failed to attain. The Jan Suraaj Party led by Prashant Kishor and the Vikashsheel Insaan Party headed by Mukesh Sahani, the latter being an ally of the RJD like Gupta, serve as prime examples. While Kishor fielded candidates in over 235 constituencies, VIP contested 12, yet both parties ended up with no wins. In 2023, Gupta left Congress to advocate for the Tanti-Tatwa community, which is classified under the Extremely Backward Classes and is estimated to comprise 1-2% of the population, and he has been an advocate for a separate quota for them alongside members of the Paan community. He criticized the NDA government of the state for the Supreme Court ruling that reversed the decision to grant Scheduled Caste status to Tanti-Tatwa (historically weavers) and relegated the community back to the EBC category.
He demonstrated a talent for mobilization by orchestrating a successful rally at Patna’s expansive Gandhi Maidan in April, attracting the attention of political parties from various backgrounds during the election year. He mentioned that he was approached by groups from the entire political spectrum, including NDA, AIMIM, and MGB, prior to finalizing an agreement with the opposition coalition. He conducted discussions with Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, accusing the NDA of attempting to undermine his political efforts while engaging in negotiations with him. An engineer who previously operated a business before entering the political arena, Gupta’s prominence is expected to increase in a state where mobilization based on caste is crucial to political transformations.
