Title: Bihar’s Political Scenario: Why is Congress Struggling in the State?
Introduction:
The Congress party, which won only one seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Bihar, is currently facing a tough time politically. Despite being part of the opposition alliance INDIA, formed against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party is struggling to make an impact in the state. Both regional parties in Bihar, JDU and RJD, are not giving much importance to Congress. The party’s leadership is unable to find answers to the current situation.
Rahul Gandhi’s Role:
On June 12, 2023, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called for a meeting of opposition parties, but Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge did not attend. However, RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav actively participated in the campaign. The meeting was successful on June 23, with Rahul and Kharge also present. Before the meeting, BJP repeatedly questioned the unity of the opposition alliance, and after the meeting, Lalu told Rahul that they are ready for the alliance, and he should get married and become the groom. Before this meeting, CM Nitish Kumar assured Congress that they will expand the cabinet. Rahul mentioned an increase in Congress ministers by two in the cabinet. However, despite several discussions, the state Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh was unable to get two additional ministers from his party. This indicates that Congress needs to understand that they need to work hard to win seats in the Lok Sabha as well.
Congress’ Situation in Bihar:
Congress wants to contest 10-11 seats in Bihar for the Lok Sabha elections. JDU has clearly stated that Congress is not influential in Bihar and could only win one seat in the previous elections. Congress needs to speak to RJD, which has no MPs, about this. JDU has formed an alliance with RJD, including Congress. The question arises, when talks of the opposition alliance are happening, why has JDU not listened to Congress? Clearly, Congress has lost its leverage, as CM Nitish Kumar has already criticized the party’s performance in the state assembly elections. Congress leaders were forced to listen to Nitish’s words after the election results, and the urgency to hold the INDIA alliance meeting was visible. This means that Congress has nothing left to do except rely on the opposition alliance against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The state Congress leaders are refraining from commenting on this issue, stating that everything is fine in the INDIA alliance and all parties will decide on seat sharing in a meeting.
Short:
In Short, the Congress party is currently struggling to make an impact in Bihar’s political scenario. Despite being part of the opposition alliance, the party’s leadership is unable to gain the support of regional parties in the state. The lack of communication and coordination between Congress and other parties has led to their diminishing influence in Bihar. The party needs to reassess its strategies and work towards strengthening its presence in the state.
बिहार में विपक्षी दलों के बीच गठबंधन के बावजूद कांग्रेस को सबसे ज्यादा बार-बार बुरी स्थिति का सामना करना पड़ रहा है। राहुल गांधी की बातचीत में यह स्पष्ट हो गया है कि कांग्रेस को अपनी मंशा को लेकर काफी समस्याएं हैं। जबकि विपक्षी दलें उसे अपना समर्थन दे रही हैं। इसके बावजूद कांग्रेस को बिहार में लोकसभा की सीटों पर भी समस्याएं आ रही हैं। जदयू ने कांग्रेस को बताया है कि वह बिहार में प्रभावी नहीं है और राजद से बात करनी चाहिए। इसके बावजूद कांग्रेस को अपनी स्थिति को सुधारने की जरूरत है।
