A party wakes up
Once considered an almost extinct political entity in Bihar after 1990, the Congress seems rejuvenated. This shift has been particularly evident over the past year, as the party has taken bold organizational steps, including leadership changes aimed at weakening the RJD’s grip on its internal decision-making.
The appointment of Rajesh Ram, a Dalit leader, as president of the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee, and Krishna Allavaru as the state in-charge, marked the beginning of this transformation. Both have maintained a notable distance from the Lalu Prasad Yadav family, signaling the Congress’s intention to shed its image as a subordinate player within the Grand Alliance.
Party members suggest that former state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh, considered close to Lalu Yadav, was removed from office due to his inability to effectively negotiate favorable seat deals in the previous elections. The new leadership has taken a tougher stance, emphasizing the need for greater autonomy in seat-sharing and strategy.
From follower to challenger
The changing power dynamic is perhaps best illustrated by Tejashwi Yadav’s participation in the 16-day Voter Rights Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi – a rare example where the RJD leader aligned himself with the Congress’s political agenda rather than the other way around. In a clear show of deference, Tejashwi even called on the public to support Rahul Gandhi as prime minister in 2029 – a statement that surprised political observers.
Additionally, Tejashwi visited Delhi several times at the request of Congress leaders to discuss seat-sharing – a reversal from previous years, when the Congress had little say in alliance negotiations.
The Congress’s decision to hold its Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Patna on September 24 – the first such meeting in Bihar since Independence – further reflects its renewed focus on the state. Attended by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders, the meeting focused on election strategy, allegations of voter roll tampering and preparations for a broader campaign narrative. The party also unveiled its document, Apti Pichhda Nyay Sankalp, at a Grand Alliance rally that followed the meeting.
Break free from RJD’s shadow
Congress is now demanding continuation of the 2020 seat-sharing formula, under which it contested 70 seats, while pushing for a higher share of “winnable” constituencies. A list of 76 such seats has already been submitted to the RJD, along with a demand for balance between strong and weak constituencies. The party even went further by claiming the post of deputy chief minister in a future alliance government – a move that clearly reflects its ambitions to move beyond junior status.
Perhaps most telling is the Congress’s silence on supporting Tejashwi Yadav as the Grand Alliance’s chief ministerial candidate. Asked during his yatra in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi evaded the question and state in-charge Krishna Allavaru said the decision would ultimately be up to the people of Bihar – a veiled message rejecting the RJD’s unilateral projection of Tejashwi as CM.
Rebalancing the Mahagathabandhan
This tougher stance on the part of the Congress comes in response to earlier signals from the RJD that the party is likely to contest fewer seats in the upcoming elections. Citing the Congress’s disappointing performance in 2020 – winning only 19 of the 70 contested seats – the RJD reportedly planned to reduce the Congress’s share to less than 50. This strategy is now under pressure.
While the RJD blames the Congress for the Mahagathbandhan’s failure to form the government in 2020, the Congress counters that it deserves more respect and an equal position, especially after renewed popular mobilization and direct awareness campaigns like Rahul’s Voter Rights Yatra and Priyanka Gandhi’s Har Ghar Adhikar Yatra.
A strategy in progress, but risks remain
The recalibration of the Congress in Bihar appears to be a calculated political strategy aimed at re-establishing itself as a serious player in a state where its influence had almost disappeared. However, the real test is yet to come.
It remains to be seen whether this assertion will translate into electoral gains – or lead to friction and a collapse of the Mahagathbandhan. The bitter fallout with the Aam Aadmi Party earlier this year over seat-sharing in Delhi and Haryana serves as a cautionary tale.
Yet the Congress’s growing confidence, its leadership’s assertiveness and its renewed ties to the grassroots have already altered the Mahgathbandhan’s internal equations — and perhaps the broader trajectory of Bihar politics.
