Senior Congress functionaries cited a disproportionate focus on national issues over local concerns like cost of living and corruption as reasons for the party’s decimation in Bihar. They urged central leadership to fix accountability for the defeat and revive the party’s prospects in the state. Discussions also touched upon candidate selection, alliance strategies, and the impact of caste census advocacy. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav during the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ (PTI) NEW DELHI: Disproportionate focus on SIR/vote chori at the cost of crucial local issues of cost of living, migration and corruption was cited by some senior functionaries as a reason for the decimation of Congress in Bihar, as they urged the central leadership to fix accountability for the defeat if the party is serious about reviving itself in the state.Some local functionaries listed three reasons for the defeat: govt’s payment of Rs 10,000 to women during the polls, booth manipulations and a lack of coordination among partners. The AIMIM was also blamed for division of minority votes in Seemanchal region and beyond. It was alleged that BJP had used a “basket of tools” to “fix” the polls which spanned SIR, EVMs, the buying of votes and use of the administration against opposition candidates. Days after the Bihar debacle, the AICC brass of Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal held a review of the poor show with poll candidates and MPs. Around 70 members met the leadership in batches. Before the meetings started and top netas arrived, two losing candidates were reported to have clashed over the reasons for the defeat – with one taking exception to the other advocating violence against “outsiders” who got party tickets. Some claimed that the idea of meeting the state functionaries in batches was also to avoid a potential clash in a large gathering.A politician is said to have found fault with the manner of candidate selection which, he said, cost the party heavily. He is said to have told Rahul Gandhi that just like he had taken responsibility for the defeat in 2019 Lok Sabha polls and stepped down as party president, heads should roll in the state too – in what was a veiled jibe at AICC in-charge Krishna Allavaru – an issue that was also raised by other members, sources said. A section of party members also targeted the alliance with RJD, saying the ally brings some votes but also polarises other communities. It was also demanded that Congress break the alliance with RJD. However, at one group meeting, Rahul is said to have rebuffed it by asking why the party failed on seats that witnessed “friendly fights” with Congress and RJD in the fray against each other. Questions were asked about the weightage given by Congress to caste census with arguments that victory of candidates from individual upper castes is vastly higher than their population share, while that from some large OBC communities is just in line with their numbers – in a veiled reference to the advocacy of “share as per population” slogan.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia Is a Key Ally, Cyprus Assures Strong Push to Finalise India–EU FTA TalksImran Khan Health Rumour: PTI Holds Sit In Outside Adiala Jail, KP CM Sohail Afridi Stages ProtestRam Madhav Challenges ‘No-Religion’ Narrative in White Collar Terror DebateAustralia Says India Is Now A Leading Global Power, Credits PM Modi For Transforming World DynamicsOusted PM Sheikh Hasina Faces Fresh Conviction as Court Awards 21-Year TermPM Modi Announces Major Move Allowing Private Players Into Nuclear Sector To Spur Advanced ReactorsExplained: Why Vikram-I Could Transform India’s Satellite Launch Market And Global Space Leadership‘Pak, Bangladesh, US…’: BJP Alleges Congress Using Foreign ‘X’ Accounts to Set India’s NarrativePakistan’s Adiala Jail Issues Statement On Imran Khan’s Health Amid Viral Death RumoursThe Indrajaal Ranger: India Unveils AI-Enabled Anti-Drone Patrol Vehicle In Hyderabad123PhotostoriesMalayalam cinema legends who made every frame shine with raw talentBollywood gems reviving forgotten tales with fresh heart and magic for a new generation of cinema lovers everywhereFun facts about the ‘Stranger Things’ castFrom ‘Apne’ to ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’: Dharmendra movies you can watch on OTT platforms‘Stranger Things 5’: Meet the new cast and find out who survives the final battle‘Stranger Things’ cast: Then and now‘Stranger Things’ cast: Educational qualificationsTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: From Dilip Joshi being older than Amit Bhatt to Mandar Chandwadkar leaving his Dubai job for acting; Lesser-known facts about the castGastroenterologist doctor reveals the power of eating 3 eggs everyday5 must-visit national parks in the USA that are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayNew Labour CodeWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingToronto Maple LeafsAyesha CurryFuzzy ZoellerCristiano RonaldoStefon DiggsGabrielle UnionVanessa BryantReed Sheppard GirlfriendStephen CurryCandace Owens
NEW DELHI: Disproportionate focus on SIR/vote chori at the cost of crucial local issues of cost of living, migration and corruption was cited by some senior functionaries as a reason for the decimation of Congress in Bihar, as they urged the central leadership to fix accountability for the defeat if the party is serious about reviving itself in the state.Some local functionaries listed three reasons for the defeat: govt’s payment of Rs 10,000 to women during the polls, booth manipulations and a lack of coordination among partners. The AIMIM was also blamed for division of minority votes in Seemanchal region and beyond. It was alleged that BJP had used a “basket of tools” to “fix” the polls which spanned SIR, EVMs, the buying of votes and use of the administration against opposition candidates. Days after the Bihar debacle, the AICC brass of Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal held a review of the poor show with poll candidates and MPs. Around 70 members met the leadership in batches. Before the meetings started and top netas arrived, two losing candidates were reported to have clashed over the reasons for the defeat – with one taking exception to the other advocating violence against “outsiders” who got party tickets. Some claimed that the idea of meeting the state functionaries in batches was also to avoid a potential clash in a large gathering.A politician is said to have found fault with the manner of candidate selection which, he said, cost the party heavily. He is said to have told Rahul Gandhi that just like he had taken responsibility for the defeat in 2019 Lok Sabha polls and stepped down as party president, heads should roll in the state too – in what was a veiled jibe at AICC in-charge Krishna Allavaru – an issue that was also raised by other members, sources said. A section of party members also targeted the alliance with RJD, saying the ally brings some votes but also polarises other communities. It was also demanded that Congress break the alliance with RJD. However, at one group meeting, Rahul is said to have rebuffed it by asking why the party failed on seats that witnessed “friendly fights” with Congress and RJD in the fray against each other. Questions were asked about the weightage given by Congress to caste census with arguments that victory of candidates from individual upper castes is vastly higher than their population share, while that from some large OBC communities is just in line with their numbers – in a veiled reference to the advocacy of “share as per population” slogan.
