Following the Congress and Mahagathbandhan's defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections, Tariq Anwar, former Union Minister and Congress MP from Katihar, addressed the party's poor performance. He highlighted multiple factors contributing to the loss, including alleged cash transfers to women voters and polarising rhetoric during campaigning. Anwar criticised the lack of coordination among alliance partners and pointed to internal party shortcomings. He questioned the ticket distribution process, stating that candidates who lost badly in 2020 should not have been given another chance. The Congress leader also noted that state-level officials responsible for election management—Krishna Allavaru, Shakeel Ahmad Khan, and Rajesh Kumar—failed to perform their duties effectively. Anwar called for a thorough introspection and restructuring of the party, emphasising the need to revisit campaign strategies and address issues that genuinely impact electoral outcomes.
Internal Failures and Alliance Breakdown
Anwar identified poor coordination among Mahagathbandhan allies as a critical weakness. He blamed state-level Congress leaders—Krishna Allavaru, Shakeel Ahmad Khan, and Rajesh Kumar—for mishandling election responsibilities. The ticket distribution process was described as haphazard, with no proper criteria applied. Candidates who suffered significant defeats in 2020 were given tickets again, which Anwar deemed a mistake. Joint campaigning between Congress and RJD was poorly planned and lacked proper execution. Rahul Gandhi was absent during crucial phases like screening committee formation and seat-sharing negotiations due to prior commitments and foreign travel. Despite the Voter Adhikar Yatra generating initial momentum around alleged election manipulation, the issue failed to translate into votes. Anwar stressed the urgent need for party restructuring and strategic review.
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