New Delhi: In its efforts to mobilise small caste groups to create a rainbow social coalition against the NDA in the upcoming Bihar polls, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc is keen to allocate two seats to a party formed less than six months ago.

The Indian Inclusive Party (IIP), led by IP Gupta, could get two seats from the Congress quota. Gutpa is a former engineer who entered politics by organising a massive show of strength in Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan in April, holding a rally of the Tanti-Tatwa and Pan communities.

These caste groups are spread across northern India. Their numbers are relatively higher in eastern Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha. Like the Devangas in the south, Tanti-Tatwa and Pan are traditionally engaged in weaving and cloth trading.

The IIP’s April rally in Patna was trigg

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