If I were pardoned one murder, first person I would shoot is Gyanesh Kumar: VIP chief Mukesh Sahani on CEC

Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahani. Photo Credit: Mukesh Sahani via en.wikipedia.org Amid the raging controversy over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s functioning, Bihar Mahagathbandhan constituent Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani on Thursday (September 24, 2026) lashed out at the poll body chief stating that if he was to be pardoned a murder, the first person he would shoot is Mr. Kumar. In the same vein, though, he said “what can we do, we are law abiding citizens who respect the Constitution”.Mr. Sahani, a former Bollywood set designer had formed Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) in 2018 and claims to represent the Extremely Backward Class (EBC) castes of Nishads and Mallahs (fishermen and boatmen) comprising around 20 sub-castes of fishermen who have traditionally depended on rivers for their livelihoods. The caste constitutes a sizeable 9% of Bihar’s population. He is also popularly known as ‘Son of Mallah’ and infamous for his political flip-flops.“The Election Commission has turned into an arm of the BJP. And I want to say to Gyanesh Kumar that time does not stay the same forever. Have some shame — you’re playing with the Constitution of the country. If I were pardoned for one murder, the first person I would shoot is Gyanesh Kumar!” he said.“What can we do, we’re law-abiding citizens who respect the Constitution,” Mr. Sahani fumed while speaking to media persons in Patna on the reported controversy over Mr. Kumar and the two Election Commissioners in connection with the electoral roll procedures. Mr. Sahani did not stop there as he further said that “in times to come, those who colluded with Mr. Gyanesh Kumar will also go to jail, no one will be spared. In 2029, a government will be formed in the country under the leadership of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ji and Gyanesh Kumar will be the first person to be sent to prison”.“Nobody will be able to protect him, not even [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi ji. In fact, Modi ji also might end up in jail,” he claimed while accusing the Prime Minister of undermining “democratic systems in the country”.“The supreme authority of our country, the ultimate arbiter — the Prime Minister — is orchestrating all this. Democracy is being trampled upon...but, elections are not held for politicians, elections belong to the people of this country. The public holds the sovereign power to kick a leader out of office, if they fail to perform,” Mr. Sahani claimed while making references of “recently held West Bengal and Bihar Assembly elections in which BJP’s swing was in their favour”.Earlier, the Election Commission had said that the reported queries and observations made by its members were part of normal internal functioning. The EC had also maintained that the final decisions of the commission were “unanimous”. Published - September 24, 2026 10:32 pm IST