Bihar Drubbing Sparks Fresh Questions for Congress, Rahul
New Delhi: After defeats in Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi, another dismal performance of the Congress in the Bihar Assembly elections came as a wake-up call for the party and its Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
Questions had already been raised following the last-minute replacement of the state unit chief, with Rajesh Ram appointed as president. The appointment of Krishna Allavaru as in-charge of the AICC also created serious resentment. The intervention of Kanhaiya Kumar and Pappu Yadav, coupled with the Congress’ weak cadre base and weak local connections, contributed to the party registering its worst-ever tally in Bihar.
Many leaders questioned Kanhaiya Kumar and Pappu Yadav’s deep involvement in the election process, especially since Pappu Yadav was not even a Congress member. The leaders claim that this accession was approved on Rahul Gandhi’s insistence.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are also facing criticism for traveling abroad soon after the end of the campaign. In September, at the height of the campaign, Rahul Gandhi made two foreign visits, one to Malaysia and the other to South America.
The party not only performed poorly but also disappointed its alliance partners. Of the 11 constituencies where “friendly contests” were agreed upon, the Mahagathbandhan lost nine and the Congress contested in all 11 constituencies.
Former state unit chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh had already criticized Allavaru. “There was no room for friendly fights. I agree that Krishna Allavaru and Sanjay Jha should respond to this,” he said.
Many party workers and leaders say the Gandhi family has given up on enforcing accountability. In the last 18 months, the Congress has lost the Lok Sabha election and four Assembly polls, but no one, be it the organisation’s general secretaries, media heads, in-charges, state heads, screening committees or poll teams, has been held accountable. Many were reportedly rewarded instead.
Reflecting the disappointment from the grassroots, Congress leader Mumtaz Patel, daughter of the late Ahmed Patel, wrote about
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who is in an uneasy equation with the high command, said the party will examine the results, conduct serious introspection and investigate the organizational failures that led to such an outcome.
He also noted that he was not invited to campaign in Bihar, while adding that the Congress must analyze the reasons for its defeat.
“Remember, we were not the senior partner of the alliance and the RJD also needs to carefully review its own performance,” he told reporters.
