“Total Failure of Organisation”: Congress Leaders Lash Out After Bihar Election Rout
As the NDA sweeps Bihar, Congress leaders admit serious lapses in organisation, leadership, and campaign execution.
The Congress party is facing a fresh wave of internal criticism after a poor performance in the Bihar assembly elections, where the BJP-led NDA is headed for a landslide victory. The NDA, comprising the BJP and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), leads in 208 out of 243 seats, leaving the Opposition Mahagathbandhan in disarray. The Congress, which contested 61 seats, has so far won one and is leading in just four.
Senior Congress leaders have openly blamed the setback on the party’s weak organisational framework. Former Bihar Governor Nikhil Kumar said the defeat highlights how the Congress’s structure has eroded over time. “In any election, a political party relies on its organisational strength. If that system fails, even strong candidates lose. It’s a total failure of the organisation,” he said. Former IPS officer Anand echoed this view, saying the leadership failed to maintain a visible and strategic presence at the ground level.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also weighed in, noting that the party was the junior partner in the Mahagathbandhan and could not be solely blamed. “The RJD must introspect too. But yes, the results show that the organisation has to be rebuilt,” he told ANI. Tharoor added that he was not invited to campaign in Bihar but that the party must now “study in detail the causes” of the debacle.
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Dissatisfaction also surfaced among younger leaders. Congress’s Mumtaz Patel, daughter of the late Ahmed Patel, urged the leadership to “accept reality” rather than offer excuses. “No introspection, no accountability, power remains concentrated in the hands of disconnected leaders. Loyal ground workers are losing hope,” she posted on X.
Some party leaders, however, focused their criticism on the Election Commission, alleging bias and irregularities. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of manipulating poll results. Party observer Ashok Gehlot alleged that voter bribery during the elections went unchecked, calling the EC a “mute spectator.” Despite a record 67.13 percent voter turnout, the Congress finds itself confronting not just electoral defeat, but a deeper crisis of relevance and credibility in Bihar politics.
Also Read: ‘Congratulations to CEC for NDA Win’: Baghel’s Sarcastic Attack on Election Commission
