By Ritesh Sinha
The energy generated by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s fiery slogan “Vote thief, leave the chair” during his recent campaign has quickly lost steam in Bihar. Internal rifts, seat-sharing tussles, and the heavy hand of central observers have left the state Congress disoriented and divided.
Congress had identified 58 constituencies across Bihar where it planned to field candidates, including all 19 of its sitting MLAs. The strategy was to contest at least one seat in every district. But the plan has run into resistance from allies, particularly the RJD. Tejashwi Yadav has staked his claim on Mokama, while Congress is pressing hard for the minority-dominated Kahalgaon seat.
Factionalism within the Congress has only worsened matters. Screening committee chief Ajay Maken, already controversial for missteps in other states, arrived in Bihar with his team but was forced to retreat within a day after facing backlash from local leaders. The task of screening was hurriedly handed to MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Preeti Shinde, both accused of rushing through the process without adequate consultation.
The Kahalgaon seat has become a flashpoint. Bhagalpur district president Parvez Jamal is pushing his claim, while party strongman Praveen Kushwaha is lobbying hard with money and influence. Meanwhile, Congress is also determined to contest Banmankhi in Purnia, a Dalit-reserved seat, by fielding Arjun Paswan from the family of former CM Dr. Bhola Paswan Shastri. Party leaders believe this move aligns with Rahul Gandhi’s Dalit outreach.
Outside players are also complicating the equation. Strongman MP Pappu Yadav, once demanding 10 seats under the Congress symbol, has scaled down to seven. In Gaya, the Congress mayor Mohan Srivastava faces the risk of losing his ticket, allegedly at the behest of a powerful state minister. Observers say rival parties are deliberately influencing candidate selection, pushing weak Congress nominees in exchange for financial deals.
Veteran Congress leaders are also accused of nepotism. Former state president Madan Mohan Jha and senior leader Akhilesh Singh are lobbying hard for their sons’ tickets—reportedly ready to switch to RJD if Congress refuses. This has fueled speculation about growing cracks within the alliance.
Adding to the uncertainty, many ticket hopefuls have camped in Delhi, lobbying central leaders, while the number of aspirants far outweighs the seats on offer. Insiders admit morale has plummeted since initial claims that Congress would contest “no fewer than 110 seats” have been quietly abandoned.
For now, the Bihar Congress finds itself caught between ambition and reality: too many contenders, too few winnable seats, and a weakening grip on its own strategy. Rahul Gandhi’s campaign may have raised hopes, but with infighting and backroom deals dominating the ticket process, the party’s prospects look increasingly muddled.
Ritesh Sinha
The author is a senior journalist based in Delhi. The views expressed in the article are his own.
