Shakeel Ahmad Khan, the Congress Legislature Party leader in the outgoing Bihar Assembly, lost his seat in the recent state elections. He attributed the Mahagathbandhan's poor performance to several factors, primarily the alleged misuse of government machinery and financial schemes. Khan highlighted how Jeevika workers displayed messages of Rs 10,000 being credited to beneficiary accounts near polling booths, influencing voters. He also criticized AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's speeches for fueling communal tensions. Khan claimed the Election Commission failed to ensure a level playing field and alleged widespread voter list irregularities. Despite acknowledging seat-sharing disputes between Congress and RJD in the later stages, he dismissed concerns about the alliance's coordination. Khan insisted that the NDA's victory was significantly aided by government machinery support, financial incentives, and Election Commission bias rather than genuine public mandate.
Government Machinery and Owaisi's Role Cited as Key Factors
Khan blamed the deployment of Jeevika workers near polling booths in his Kadwa constituency and elsewhere for swaying voters. These workers allegedly showed beneficiaries messages confirming Rs 10,000 transfers, which Khan said violated campaign rules. He filed complaints, but enforcement was inconsistent. Khan also criticized Asaduddin Owaisi's communal rhetoric, stating it gave Hindu communalists ammunition to polarize voters. He argued that Owaisi's speeches invoked Muslim identity in ways that taunted Hindus, helping the NDA consolidate votes. Khan emphasized that both Hindutva forces and the AIMIM should be equally opposed. He dismissed the 'jungle raj' narrative as outdated and insisted that issues like poor governance and migration were discussed widely but failed to convert into votes.
Source: Link