A biryani party hosted by AIMIM leader and candidate Tausif Alam in Kishanganj, Bihar, turned chaotic on Thursday (October 16), with videos showing crowds jostling for food going viral on social media. Alam, who represents Asaduddin Owaisi’s party, hosted the event at his residence before filing his bid for a fifth term.
The party, planned as part of a prayer ceremony preceding his nomination, attracted a much larger turnout than expected. Videos circulating online show people jostling at the food counter, leading to what users have dubbed the “biryani rush”.
A scene during the nomination of AIMIM candidate Tausif Alam in Bahadurganj. AIMIM supporters fight over free biryani. A revealing snapshot. Poverty reigns and politics still feeds on it!
SAD. pic.twitter.com/HmOLfSgdQv
– Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) October 17, 2025
Reactions on social media were mixed. One X user commented: “This just shows the pathetic condition of people… these look more like illegal migrants than residents,” while another remarked: “Just another reminder that in politics, gifts speak louder than manifestos.” »
Alam dismissed the controversy saying, “It was a Fatiha Khwani ceremony where biryani was distributed like prasad after religious prayers. The permission was for 2,000 people, but the love from the audience was overwhelming.”
Kishanganj, with over 68% Muslim population, was the NDA’s only defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The two-phase assembly elections in Bihar will be held on November 6 and 11, with counting on November 8.
(Edited by: Ajay Vaishnav)
