Bihar Congress Faces Backlash Over Secretive Ticket Distribution Process
Bihar Congress drama unfolds with secret handouts and ally pacts.
Congress party distributed tickets to key leaders on Wednesday without a formal seat-sharing announcement, sparking protests and rushed alliances. State president Rajesh Kumar, who secured his reserved Kutumba seat, faced heckling at Patna airport from disgruntled aspirants accusing him and legislative party leader Shakil Ahmed Khan of "selling tickets." The duo, fresh from Delhi consultations, abandoned plans to distribute symbols at Sadaqat Ashram headquarters due to the uproar and instead handed them out discreetly at a leader's residence.
Prominent recipients included sitting MLAs Anand Shankar Singh (Aurangabad), Vijendra Chaudhary (Muzaffarpur), and Pratima Das (Raja Pakar), whose photos were quickly shared on the Bihar Congress X handle. Many have already filed nominations, aligning with the tight schedule: first-phase filings end Friday, while second and third phases extend to October 20 and 28, respectively, ahead of voting in three stages starting October 28.
Emulating allies like RJD and CPI(ML) Liberation, as well as rivals JD(U), Congress bypassed formal lists to avoid delays. This move comes amid internal backlash and external pressures, with the party historically weak in Bihar, winning just 19 of 70 seats in 2020. Boosted by Rahul Gandhi's Voter Adhikar Yatra, Congress initially pushed aggressively but reportedly settled late-night for 61 seats—down from 70 last time—in talks at RJD chief Lalu Prasad's residence with AICC in-charge Krishna Allavaru.
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RJD is slated for the bulk, likely fewer than its 144 in 2020 (where it won 75), leaving spots for Left parties CPI(ML), CPI(M), CPI, and VIP's Mukesh Sahani in the 243-seat assembly. Unconfirmed leaks suggest this "amicable deal" averts a Mahagathbandhan rift, but sources hint at lingering tensions over winnability and caste equations. With polls nearing, such backroom maneuvers could sway voter perceptions in a state where alliances often make or break fortunes, potentially reviving Congress's fortunes or exposing its vulnerabilities further. Analysts predict intensified campaigning, with Gandhi's rallies drawing crowds but facing Nitish Kumar's governance narrative.
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