Bihar Elections 2025: Who Will the Mallah Community Help Sail to Victory?

In Bihar, the Mallah (boatmen) community has evolved far beyond being just a traditional vote bank — it has become a significant political force. According to the Bihar Caste Survey 2023, the Nishad community (which includes the Mallah sub-caste) constitutes around 9.6% of the state’s population, of which Mallahs alone make up 2.6%.

Regional Influence

Regionally, this community holds decisive influence in at least 20 assembly constituencies, particularly in districts such as Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Darbhanga, Supaul, Khagaria, East Champaran, and West Champaran. In these areas, even a slight swing in Mallah votes can alter electoral outcomes.

The Vote Bank Factor

Although numerically not a dominant group across Bihar, the Mallahs or Nishads possess the strategic power to change results in closely contested constituencies. Their strength lies in their inclusion within the Extremely Backward Class (EBC) category — a segment that has emerged as the classic “swing vote” in the 2025 elections. All major political parties are attempting to attract this bloc, and the Mallahs are central to this competition.

For larger parties, the community’s support is especially valuable in constituencies where the margin of victory is expected to be thin.

Current Scenario and Political Maneuvers

In the 2025 elections, both the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) and the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) are actively wooing the Mallah/Nishad voters. For instance, the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), led by Mukesh Sahani — who has built his political identity around the Mallah community — has been strategically projected by the Mahagathbandhan as a potential Deputy Chief Minister face.

However, Mukesh Sahani’s frequent political shifts have somewhat eroded his credibility. After founding his party in 2018, he initially allied with the Mahagathbandhan in 2019, then switched to the NDA in 2020, and later returned to the opposition, accusing the BJP of poaching his party leaders.

Muzaffarpur: The Epicenter of Mallah Politics

Muzaffarpur has long been the epicenter of Mallah politics. The late Captain Jai Narain Nishad, a four-time Member of Parliament, was once the most prominent leader of this community, having served across multiple parties from Janata Dal to the BJP. His son, Ajay Nishad, later represented the Muzaffarpur Lok Sabha seat twice as a BJP member.

To consolidate Mallah support, the BJP has fielded its current Muzaffarpur MP and Union Minister Raj Bhushan Chaudhary, himself a member of the Mallah community, as a key face in its campaign.

The Strategic Promises

Both alliances are making promises beyond mere caste-based reservations — focusing also on economic empowerment, social inclusion, and community-specific development programs. If the Mallah/Nishad vote swings towards the Mahagathbandhan, it could significantly dent the NDA’s EBC base, particularly in the constituencies witnessing tight contests.

The Final Test

As North Bihar — the traditional heartland of the Mallah community — heads to vote on November 6, this election will test two crucial dynamics:

1. The appeal of Tejashwi Yadav among non-Yadav backward castes, and

2. The ability of Mukesh Sahani to consolidate his community behind the opposition bloc.

The question remains: Whose political boat will the Mallahs help sail across the river this time?