Patna, Sept. 16: The Nishad Vikas Sangh - a body of Nishads, Mallahs and Nonias - today formally threw its weight behind the JDU-RJD-Congress alliance after oscillating between the BJP and the Dal.

The Sangh's president, Mukesh Sahni (35), a Mumbai-based film producer-cum-entrepreneur from Darbhanga district, had first launched an agitation for inclusion of extremely backward classes like the Nishads, Mallahs and Nonias into the Scheduled Castecategory. BJP leaders Sushil Kumar Modi, Nand Kishore Yadav and Mangal Pandey quickly joined the stir to woo the "upcoming" leader.

Even after Nitish recommended ST status for the castes, Mukesh kept meeting BJP leaders, apparently, to test waters. Yesterday, he met BJP chief Amit Shah. After meeting Nitish today, he announced support of his non-political outfit to the grand alliance. He also met Lalu Prasad. Asked why he was meeting leaders of both camps, Mukesh said: "I had to assess which party would best serve us. I found Nitish ji is a better leader to serve our community."

With Mukesh on board, the JDU-led alliance can hope to get back its Nishad voter base in Tirhut and Mithila regions, once behind Jainarayan Nishad, a four-term MP now in the twilight of his life. Jainarayan's son Ajay Nishad represents Muzaffarpur seat in Lok Sabha on a BJP ticket. Jainarayan won from Muzaffarpur on a JDU ticket in the 2009 but later joined the BJP, paving the way for his son Ajay to bag the BJP ticket in 2014.

Asked what drove him to support the JDU-led grand alliance, Mukesh said: "The BJP yesterday released its list but did not give any representation to our community. We soon sensed the BJP has scant regard for our community."

BJP leader Rameshwar Chaurasia said: "To become a leader, one should contest polls. Belonging to a certain caste does not give one the right to become its leader."