No takers for ‘vote chori’ pitch? Congress slips further in Bihar’s power contest | Patna News
PATNA: The Indian National Congress, once a formidable force in Bihar, is facing another bruising setback as early results from the assembly elections show the party barely making a dent. With leads in just six of the 60 seats it contested, the Congress is heading for one of its weakest performances in the state—its conversion rate crashing to a mere 10%. Once a dominant player in Bihar’s political landscape, the Congress has slipped into the margins over the past three decades, struggling to reclaim ground it last decisively held under Jagannath Mishra’s leadership in 1990. The party has since been relegated to the third or even fourth rung in the state’s fiercely contested arena. Despite a high-voltage campaign spearheaded by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha—including allegations of “vote chori” against the Centre and the Election Commission, criticism of the Special Intensive Revision exercise, and a Voter Adhikar Yatra—the party’s messaging has failed to resonate. What went wrong?While designed to project Congress as the defender of electoral rights, these national-level themes appear to have been overshadowed by more immediate, local concerns that continue to drive voter preferences in Bihar. The contrast with 2020 is stark, Congress had then won 27 of the 70 seats it fought, converting 38% of its contests. This time, its performance has slipped sharply, becoming a liability for alliance partner Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The RJD, however, is holding its ground, leading in 36 seats—an indication that Lalu Prasad Yadav’s enduring political imprint still commands loyalty among significant sections of voters. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance is heading toward a resounding victory, leading in 190 seats and on track to rival or even outperform its 2010 tally of 206 seats. The sweeping NDA surge underscores the scale of Congress’ crisis in Bihar—and the daunting task it faces in rebuilding relevance in one of India’s most politically dynamic states.
