Congress Rethinks RJD Alliance After Bihar Poll Rout, Internal Divide Comes to the Fore

Patna: The Congress party is facing serious internal debate over its future strategy in Bihar after its poor performance in the recent Assembly elections. Differences over whether to continue the alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) or contest independently have surfaced within the party, signaling possible changes ahead.

The issue was discussed at a closed-door meeting held at the Delhi residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Senior leaders, Bihar office-bearers, and all Congress MLAs from the state attended the meeting, which was also joined by Rahul Gandhi. The discussion focused on the reasons behind the party’s electoral setback and the road ahead in Bihar politics.

During the meeting, Kharge reportedly sought frank opinions from Bihar leaders on whether the Congress should stick with the RJD or chart its own path. According to those present, all six Congress MLAs expressed strong opposition to continuing the alliance. They argued that the tie-up had weakened the party on the ground and damaged its independent political identity in the state.

However, the meeting also saw differing views. Some senior leaders felt that breaking away from the RJD could further marginalise Congress in Bihar. Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh was among those who supported maintaining the alliance, describing it as strategically important given Bihar’s current political landscape.

The debate comes in the backdrop of a disappointing election outcome for the opposition alliance. Congress managed to win only six seats despite contesting over sixty constituencies, while the RJD, though the main opposition force, fell far short of expectations. In contrast, the BJP-led NDA returned to power with a commanding majority.

The presence of all six Congress MLAs at the meeting was also significant, as rumours of possible defections had been circulating for days. These speculations grew after the MLAs skipped a party event in Patna ahead of Makar Sankranti. At the meeting, the legislators reportedly dismissed talk of joining the JD(U) or any other party.

After the discussions, Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal clarified that reports of MLAs leaving the party were untrue. He said the meeting was meant to address concerns and put an end to baseless speculation.