NEW DELHI: A major political churn is on the cards in Bihar with indications of a possible split within the Congress Legislature Party by the end of this month. Sources told The Sunday Guardian that several Congress leaders in the state have lost confidence in the senior leadership under whose stewardship the party fought recent elections, raising the possibility of defections to the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Talk of an imminent political realignment has gained momentum following repeated assertions by ministers and leaders of the NDA. Sanjay Singh, a minister from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) faction, claimed that the wait for a major political development in Bihar is “almost over”. He alleged that all six Congress MLAs in the state are in continuous contact with NDA leaders and are expected to formally join the ruling alliance shortly after January 15.
Singh further stated that the dissatisfaction among Congress MLAs arises from the party’s alliance decisions and its internal organisational functioning. He added that the legislators were deliberately waiting for the conclusion of Kharmas—regarded as an inauspicious period in the Hindu calendar—before taking any decisive step. “After Makar Sankranti, Bihar politics will witness significant changes,” Singh remarked.
Reinforcing similar claims, Lakhendra Paswan, a minister from the BJP quota in the Bihar government, said that with the end of Kharmas, favourable and auspicious times are approaching. “During such a period, everyone wishes to initiate positive and constructive work. In this situation, the Congress MLAs will cross over at the earliest. We are aware that they are waiting to join the NDA,” Paswan said. He also asserted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bihar has set out firmly on the path of development, which is drawing leaders from different political backgrounds towards the ruling alliance.
The Congress, however, has outrightly rejected these claims, terming them completely baseless. Senior Congress leader and former MLA Shakeel Ahmed Khan accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of indulging in unethical political practices and repeatedly creating false narratives. “The BJP has a history of spreading rumours. Since they have been entrusted with governance, they should focus on stopping migration, ensuring good governance, correcting their image associated with hooliganism, and fulfilling the promises made to the people,” Khan said, adding that the ruling party has little else to do apart from engaging in political speculation.
Meanwhile, political observers believe that the Congress leadership must undertake serious introspection following its electoral setbacks in Bihar. Analysts argue that the party needs to identify the reasons behind its poor performance and urgently work towards restructuring and revitalising its organisation in the state. If the party fails to address these issues in time, they warn, there is a strong possibility of further erosion, with leaders and grassroots workers drifting away to rival political formations.
With January 15 drawing closer, attention remains firmly fixed on Bihar’s evolving political landscape, where even a marginal shift in numbers could have far-reaching implications for the state’s future political equations and power balance.
