Bhagirath Manjhi, son of the iconic 'Mountain Man' Dashrath Manjhi, has voiced deep frustration after being denied a Congress party ticket for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, scheduled for November 6 and 11, 2025. Speaking to ANI, Bhagirath revealed he spent four days in Delhi, submitting all required documents in hopes of contesting, based on what he claims were assurances from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. “I had asked Rahul Gandhi for the ticket, and he had said that he would give the ticket... I was hopeful, but everyone else got tickets—we didn’t,” he said, highlighting his inability to even secure a meeting with Gandhi. This incident exposes underlying tensions within the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance as it struggles to finalize its electoral strategy.

Dashrath Manjhi’s legacy looms large in Bihar’s Gaya district, where he hailed from Gehlaur village. Over 22 years, he single-handedly carved a 110-meter-long, 9.1-meter-wide, and 7.7-meter-deep path through a hill using only a hammer and chisel, reducing the distance between Atri and Wazirganj blocks from 55 kilometers to 15. His monumental effort, completed to improve access for his community, earned him national admiration and inspired a Bollywood film. Following his death on August 17, 2007, at AIIMS in New Delhi, the Bihar government honored him with a state funeral and nominated him for the Padma Shri in 2006. In 2016, India Post issued a commemorative stamp in his name under the 'Personalities of Bihar' series.

Rahul Gandhi has previously celebrated Dashrath Manjhi’s determination, paying tribute on his death anniversary and calling his resolve an inspiration for all. Bhagirath, banking on this reverence and Gandhi’s visit to his home, had hoped to contest from the Barachatti seat in Gaya after switching from JD(U) to Congress earlier in 2025. However, the Congress’s failure to nominate him has sparked questions about the party’s commitment to honoring such legacies. The Mahagathbandhan—comprising Congress, RJD, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), and VIP—remains embroiled in coordination issues, with no formal seat-sharing agreement announced, even as individual parties declare candidates.

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Meanwhile, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has solidified its strategy, allocating 101 seats each to the BJP and JD(U), 29 to Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and six each to Rashtriya Lok Morcha and Hindustani Awam Morcha. With vote counting set for November 14, 2025, Bhagirath’s public disappointment could amplify discontent within the Mahagathbandhan, potentially swaying voters in Gaya, where his father’s legacy resonates deeply. The snub risks casting a shadow over Congress’s campaign, highlighting internal disarray as Bihar’s high-stakes electoral battle looms.

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