The Congress shares its claim in Bihar: a new chapter takes place in state policy

The next elections of the Bihar Assembly promise to be different from that that the State has seen in recent decades, the Indian National Congress reporting a clear derogation from its traditional junior ally in the state’s political landscape. After more than 30 years playing the second violin of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress is now pushing to redefine as an independent and assertive political force in Bihar.

A Reawakens party

Formerly considered as an almost extinct political entity in Bihar after 1990, Congress seems to be rejuvenated. The quarter of work has been particularly obvious in the past year, as the party has taken daring organizational measures, including leadership changes aimed at weakening the RJD on its internal decision -making.

The appointment of Rajesh Ram, a Dalit chief, as chairman of the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee, and Krishna Allavaru as state manager marked the start of this transformation. The two maintained a notable distance from the Lalu Prasad Yadav family, signaling the intention of the Congress to lose its image as a subordinate player in the great alliance.

Party initiates suggest that former State President Akhilesh Prasad Singh, considered close to Lalu Yadav, has been deleted due to his inability to effectively negotiate favorable siege agreements in previous elections. The new leadership has adopted a more difficult position, emphasizing the need for greater autonomy in the sharing of seats and strategy.

Challenger follower

The dynamics of changing power may be better illustrated by the participation of Tejashwi Yadav in 16 -day electoral rights that Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi – a rare example of the head of the RJD aligning with the Congress Political Program rather than the opposite. In a manifest demonstration of deference, Tejashwi even called on the public to support Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister in 2029 – a statement that surprised political observers.

In addition, Tejashwi has made several trips to Delhi at the request of the Congress Management to discuss the sharing of seats – an overthrow of previous years, when the Congress had no word to say in alliance negotiations.

The Congress decision to hold its meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) in Patna on September 24 – the first meeting of this type in Bihar since independence – also reflects its renewed accent on the State. Assisted by the president of the Mallikarjun Kharge party, Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders, the meeting was centered on the electoral strategy, the alleged preschool of voters and preparations for a wider campaign story. The party also unveiled its document, Apti Pichhda Nyay Sankalp, during a rally of great alliance after the meeting.

Free yourself from the shadow of RJD

The Congress now requires the continuation of the 2020 seats sharing formula, under which it has disputed 70 seats, while also pushing a higher share of “won” constituencies. A list of 76 seats of this type has already been subjected to the RJD, accompanied by a demand for balance between the strong and weak constituencies. The party even went further by stimulating the post of deputy minister in a future government of the Alliance – a decision that clearly reflects its ambitions to go beyond junior status.

The most revealing is perhaps the silence of the Congress on the approval of Tejashwi Yadav as a ministerial in chief candidate of the great alliance. When asked during his Yatra at Bihar, Rahul Gandhi bypassed the issue, and the head of the Krishna Allavaru State said that the decision would finally rest with the Bihar people – a veiled message rejecting the unilateral projection of the RJD of Tejashwi as CM.

Rebalance the mahagathabandhan

This more difficult posture of the congress comes in response to the previous signals of the RJD according to which the party should contest fewer seats in the next elections. Citing the disappointing performance of the congress in 2020 – winning only 19 of the 70 disputed seats – the RJD would have planned to reduce the share of the congress within 50. This strategy is now under pressure.

While the RJD blames the Congress of Mahagathbandhan’s inability to form the government in 2020, the Congress retorts that it deserves more respect and equal position, in particular after the mobilization of the base and the direct awareness campaigns, like Har Ghar Adhikar of Rahul.

A moving strategy – but risks remain

The recalibration of the congress in the Bihar seems to be a calculated political strategy aimed at recovering as a serious actor in a state where his influence had almost disappeared. However, the real test is in advance.

It remains to be seen that this assertion will result in electoral gains – or will result in friction and a break from the Mahagathbandhan. The bitter repercussions with the AAM AADMI party earlier this year concerning the sharing of seats in Delhi and Haryana serves as a guard.

However, the growing confidence of the congress, the affirmation of leadership and the renewed link with the base have already modified the internal equations of the Mahgathbandhan – and perhaps, the broader trajectory of the Bihar policy.