A party reawakens
Once considered a near-extinct political entity in Bihar post-1990, the Congress appears rejuvenated. The shift has been particularly evident over the past year, as the party has taken bold organisational steps, including leadership changes aimed at weakening the RJD’s hold over its internal decision-making.
The appointment of Rajesh Ram, a Dalit leader, as Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee President, and Krishna Allavaru as 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 intent to shed its image as a subordinate player in the Grand Alliance.
Party insiders suggest that former state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh, seen as being close to Lalu Yadav, was removed due to his inability to negotiate favourable seat deals in past elections effectively. The new leadership has adopted a tougher stance, emphasising the need for more 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 instance of the RJD leader aligning himself with the Congress’s political program rather than the other way around. In an overt display of deference, Tejashwi even appealed to the public to back Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister in 2029 — a statement that caught political observers by surprise.
Additionally, Tejashwi has made multiple trips to Delhi at the request of the Congress leadership to discuss seat-sharing — a reversal from earlier 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 centered on election strategy, alleged voter list tampering, and preparations for a wider campaign narrative. The party also unveiled its document, Apti Pichhda Nyay Sankalp, at a Grand Alliance rally following the meeting.
Breaking free from RJD’s shadow
The Congress is now demanding the continuation of the 2020 seat-sharing formula, under which it contested 70 seats, while also pushing for a higher share of “winnable” constituencies. A list of 76 such seats has already been submitted to the RJD, accompanied by a demand for balance between strong and weak constituencies. The party has even gone a step further by staking claim to the Deputy Chief Minister’s post in a future alliance government — a move that clearly reflects its ambitions to rise beyond junior status.
Perhaps most telling is the Congress’s silence on endorsing Tejashwi Yadav as the Grand Alliance’s chief ministerial candidate. When asked during his yatra in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi skirted the issue, and state in-charge Krishna Allavaru stated that the decision would ultimately rest with the people of Bihar — a veiled message rejecting the RJD’s unilateral projection of Tejashwi as CM.
Rebalancing the Mahagathabandhan
This tougher posture from the Congress comes in response to the RJD’s earlier signals that the party should contest fewer seats in the upcoming election. Citing the Congress’s underwhelming performance in 2020 — winning only 19 out of 70 contested seats — the RJD had reportedly been planning to reduce Congress’s share to below 50. That strategy is now under pressure.
While the RJD blames the Congress for the Mahagathbandhan’s inability to form the government in 2020, the Congress counters that it deserves more respect and equal standing, especially after renewed grassroots mobilisation and direct outreach campaigns like Rahul’s Voter Rights Yatra and Priyanka Gandhi’s Har Ghar Adhikar Yatra.
A strategy in motion — but risks remain
The Congress’s recalibration 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 nearly vanished. However, the real test lies ahead.
Whether this assertiveness will translate into electoral gains — or result in friction and a breakdown of the Mahagathbandhan — remains to be seen. The bitter fallout with the Aam Aadmi Party earlier this year over seat-sharing in Delhi and Haryana serves as a cautionary tale.
Still, the Congress’s increasing confidence, leadership assertiveness, and renewed connection with the grassroots have already altered the internal equations of the Mahgathbandhan — and perhaps, the broader trajectory of Bihar politics.
