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However, the Congress’s show of manufactured unity has failed to contain the internal disgruntlement brewing since the Bihar election defeat
This singular focus on electoral malpractice is set to define the Congress’s opposition politics. File pic/PTI
The Congress high command, including MP Rahul Gandhi and general secretaries KC Venugopal and Krishna Allavaru, emerged from a marathon three-hour review meeting on Thursday, ostensibly projecting a united front. But the consensus barely masked the deep-seated anger over the party’s abysmal performance in the recent Bihar assembly elections. The official narrative, immediately declared by Venugopal and Allavaru, cemented the party’s position: the massive defeat was not a strategic failure but a consequence of “vote chori” (vote theft) orchestrated by the ruling dispensation.
This singular focus on electoral malpractice is set to define the Congress’s opposition politics, with discussions pivoting to a mega-rally against the government planned for December 14 at Ramlila Maidan. Sources indicate that Rahul Gandhi has instructed state units to make the “vote chori” and the manipulation of electoral rolls the core issue in upcoming state polls, including those slated for 2026.
However, the manufactured unity could not contain the internal disgruntlement that had been brewing since the election results. Even before Rahul Gandhi’s arrival, the atmosphere was thick with charges and countercharges. The most vocal complaints centred squarely on the flawed ticket distribution strategy. Leaders accused the leadership of overlooking long-standing party workers in favour of “last-minute entry” candidates—about 18 of whom were allegedly granted tickets, severely damaging morale at the grassroots.
A leader from Purnea articulated the frustration, noting that committed local workers who had been around for years were bypassed. The party’s campaign strategy and the actions of AICC in-charge Krishna Allavaru faced sharp criticism, reviving memories of ugly scenes at the Patna party office during the election, when aspirants denied tickets had allegedly physically attacked Allavaru and state chief Rajesh Ram.
Congress leader Avidur Rahman was quoted, confirming the internal mismanagement: “We made a big mistake. We told Rahul ji everything. We will follow his orders… Ticket manipulation was done. Money was embezzled on a massive scale. We made all these mistakes, which we couldn’t understand.”
Despite the widespread complaints heard during the one-on-one sessions conducted by the top leadership—including grievances that the “vote chori” issue was poorly communicated on the ground and that Delhi leaders failed to connect with grassroots workers—the central leadership appears to have brushed aside the introspection calls. The party is instead committed to the single-point agenda of alleging electoral fraud, choosing to pursue a confrontational political line rather than risk further internal fallout by holding ticket distributors and strategists accountable.
Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als…Read More
Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als… Read More
November 27, 2025, 23:42 IST
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