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COVER STORY NOVEMBER 21, 2025 | The Indian Eye 8

RAHUL GANDHI

Congress Leader Faces

Stinging Backlash as Bihar

Defeat Triggers Criticism

Congress leader has intensified his attack on the Election Commission of India, accusing it of “murdering

democracyCongress’ crushing loss in Bihar has unleashed rare public anger against Rahul Gandhi,
exposing deep fractures in the party’s leadership and strategy” and alleging widespread manipulation of

electoral rolls across states under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise

OUR BUREAU The backlash reflects a deeper
fear: that Rahul Gandhi’s leader-
New Delhi / Patna
ship style — sincere but inconsistent,
ahul Gandhi has faced defeats ideologically sharp but organisation-
before, but the backlash fol- ally diffuse — is no longer enough to
Rlowing the Bihar election is keep the party competitive. Critics
sharper, louder, and far more pub- say the Congress lacks a disciplined
lic than anything the Congress has cadre, state-level leadership, and a
weathered in recent years. The party’s clear message beyond the defence of
collapse — six seats out of 61 contest- the Constitution. Supporters argue
ed — has turned into a referendum he is fighting powerful institutions
on Rahul’s leadership, with criticism and a hostile ecosystem, but even
pouring in from within the party, they admit the party has failed to
from defectors, and from political op- convert his mass outreach into elec-
ponents who see the result as proof of toral dividends.
a long-festering crisis at the top. The Bihar defeat has also
The first and most telling blow strained relations within the opposi-
came from Congress leader Mum- tion alliance. Partners whisper that
taz Patel, who accused the high Congress demands more seats than
command of concentrating deci- it can win, and its weak performance
sion-making in “the hands of a few Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (File photo) drags the bloc down. If the INDIA
people” while ignoring workers who alliance is to present a viable chal-
understand the ground. stopped trusting the party. His re- JD(U) 83. Even smaller NDA part- lenge nationally, they argue, it must
Her remarks — that dedicated marks about Rahul playing with his ners posted solid tallies. The Ma- rethink its dependence on a party
cadres are “never acknowledged” dog during a meeting on Kashmir hagathbandhan was reduced to 33 that has not shown electoral momen-
and that the party talks about sav- issues struck a deeply personal note seats. Congress, which contested 61 tum in years.
ing democracy while ignoring it in- — the kind of attack few dared make seats, won just six — a performance For Rahul Gandhi, the political
ternally — captured the frustration publicly until now. that raised uncomfortable questions challenge now is not only to address
that has been simmering inside the The BJP, buoyed by the NDA’s about whether it deserved its bar- the Bihar debacle but to confront the
organisation for years. While she sweeping victory, joined the chorus. gaining power within the alliance. growing perception that Congress
praised Rahul Gandhi’s effort, she Former Himachal Chief Minister Rahul Gandhi’s own response under his leadership is stuck in a
blamed his inner circle for repeated Jairam Thakur accused Rahul of — blaming an “unfair” election — loop — defeat, introspection, paral-
defeats, exposing a clear divide be- deflecting blame through claims of failed to quell criticism. Many within ysis, repeat. The Bihar results have
tween the national leadership and EVM tampering and “vote chori” the party believe such explanations forced uncomfortable questions into
the rank and file. even before results were announced. no longer resonate with workers or the open: Who holds power within
But the attack that truly rattled For the BJP, the Bihar verdict was an allies. Congress President Mallikar- the party? Why are decisions taken
the Congress came from outside. affirmation of Narendra Modi’s ap- jun Kharge tried to strike a concil- by a small coterie? And how long can
Salman Nizami of the Ghulam Nabi peal. For Congress, it was a harsh re- iatory tone, accepting the mandate Congress continue without funda-
Azad-led DPAP launched a blister- minder that the INDIA bloc cannot and assuring a “thorough study” of mental organisational reform?
ing critique, declaring Rahul “not fit rely on moral arguments alone when the defeat. But the promise of yet an- The backlash he faces today is
for politics” and urging him to resign. voters demand strong leadership and other review did little to ease inter- not about one election. It is about
He mocked Rahul’s campaign style, coherent strategy. nal tensions. Congress has conducted a decade of unresolved problems.
foreign trips, and inability to connect The numbers deepened the hu- post-mortems after every major loss Bihar has merely given his critics a
with voters, claiming the Bihar result miliation. The NDA stormed past since 2014, yet structural reforms re- decisive moment — and a louder mi-
proved that Muslims and youth had 195 seats; the BJP won 88, and the main elusive. crophone.

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