CONGRESS REWORKS BIHAR BLUEPRINT, EYES SOLO FIGHT

Congress, after winning only six seats in Bihar, plans a solo fight, sharper campaign against AIMIM, and strengthening organisation in election review.

- ANAND SINGH

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. File photo.

Faced with a massive setback in Bihar, where it managed to secure only six seats in the recent assembly polls, the Congress party's top leadership has begun chalking out a fresh political road-map for the state. The new plan—still in an early stage—suggests a significant tactical shift, including the option of contesting future elections independently by distancing itself from its longstanding ally, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

It also recommends adopting a sharper stance against the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM, which is believed to have eaten into the Congress vote share in several constituencies across the Seemanchal belt.

In the aftermath of the electoral loss, the Congress high command held a detailed review meeting with Bihar leaders, which was attended by Members of Parliament, Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, state Congress president Rajesh Ram and all candidates who contested the elections. The leadership team comprising party president Mallikarjun Kharge, LoP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal - met candidates in batches of ten to assess ground realities and gather individual evaluations of what may have gone wrong.