Congress is considering contesting Bihar elections alone, signalling a shift away from alliances with RJD and other regional parties.
NEW DELHI: The Congress party is reassessing its political strategy in Bihar, moving away from its conventional approach. Congress appears to be considering a new strategy for alliances in Bihar this time. Congress seems to be facing growing isolation, with allies prioritizing their own interests. The evolving political equations suggest that the party’s next move in Bihar could reshape the broader opposition strategy and determine its position in the changing political scenario.​
Congress faces a tough choice in Bihar, as repeated electoral losses have reduced its enthusiasm for alliances. If the party decides to contest alone, the impact will go beyond Bihar, influencing its strategy and position in other states, potentially reshaping its future political approach on a larger scale.​
The first major impact of Congress’s decision in Bihar will be felt in Uttar Pradesh. Currently, Congress is in alliance with the Samajwadi Party, but this partnership does not appear to have long-term stability. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are the two largest states in the Hindi belt where Congress has been struggling for decades.​
In Bihar, Congress has not gained much from alliances over the past twenty years, and the situation in Uttar Pradesh is no different. The party’s position in UP has deteriorated to the extent that its vote share fell to just 3% in the last assembly elections. Contesting two consecutive elections in alliance with the Samajwadi Party failed to bring any significant advantage. Given this history, Congress may reconsider its strategy, as alliances have not helped revive its fortunes in these crucial states. This could signal a broader shift in the party’s approach to regional politics.​
In Maharashtra, Congress has faced setbacks due to alliances rather than gains. Several seats that the party could have won had to be sacrificed for coalition partners, leading to disappointment among party members after consecutive defeats. A similar situation unfolded during the Lok Sabha elections when the RJD exerted significant pressure on Congress regarding seat distribution. As a result, Pappu Yadav had to contest independently from Purnia, while Kanhaiya Kumar was relocated to Delhi to fight the elections. Despite these compromises, Congress failed to gain any substantial electoral benefits.​
Following this, the Congress high command took a strategic decision that sent shockwaves through the RJD camp. Party leader Rahul Gandhi replaced Mohan Prakash with Krishna Allavaru as the Bihar in-charge and elevated Kanhaiya Kumar’s role within the state unit. This move gained further traction with the support of independent MP Pappu Yadav, who has close ties to Congress. These developments led to an internal power shift, sidelining the state Congress leadership and allowing the newly empowered leaders to chart their own course. Notably, all three leaders—Kanhaiya Kumar, Krishna Allavaru, and Pappu Yadav—are seen as being close to the party high command, adding to the growing unrest within Congress ranks.​
This internal shake-up has caused tensions among Congress leaders who prefer maintaining an alliance with RJD. Meanwhile, Pappu Yadav has been openly critical of RJD in his public statements.
At the same time, Krishna Allavaru and Kanhaiya Kumar are set to launch a padayatra from Sunday, focusing on issues like unemployment and migration—without RJD’s involvement. These moves have made it evident that Congress is distancing itself from RJD, while Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD leader, continues to make independent political decisions without consulting Congress. This has resulted in a visible rift between the two parties.​
Historically, both Kanhaiya Kumar and Pappu Yadav have been vocal critics of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. Given their recent prominence within Congress, there is speculation that the party is preparing for a significant political shift in Bihar. The upcoming high-level meeting of Congress this week, convened by Party President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, is expected to provide clarity on the party’s stance in Bihar. Additionally, an AICC meeting in Ahmedabad next month will discuss various political strategies, possibly including a resolution on alliances.​
Congress’s stance on alliances has evolved over the years. In 2003, during the Chintan Shivir in Shimla, the party decided to align with secular forces, a strategy that helped it govern the country for a decade. However, the past ten years have yielded little success from alliances. In the 2024 general elections, Congress once again contested as part of a coalition, but instead of gains, the party suffered setbacks in multiple states.​
These continued losses have made the party restless about its alliance strategy. As Congress deliberates its next move, the decisions taken in Bihar will likely set a precedent for its broader political approach, influencing alliances in other states and reshaping its electoral strategies nationwide.