Patna: With the Bihar assembly elections still six to seven months away, the Congress party has begun laying the groundwork, aiming to reclaim lost ground in a politically volatile state. After a recent visit by Rahul Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge is set to tour Bihar on April 19 and 20.
According to party sources, Kharge will address rallies in Buxar and Patna, and meet state leaders and workers to gather feedback and fine-tune the party’s strategy ahead of the crucial polls. The two-day visit marks a renewed push by the Congress to revitalise its organisational base in Bihar, where it has long struggled to assert its political relevance.
Kharge’s visit follows Rahul Gandhi’s appearance at the Constitution Security Conference in Patna on April 7, where the Congress leader candidly acknowledged past missteps. “We did not work with the speed and strength with which we should have. I have learned from my mistakes. Now we will move forward with full strength by taking the weak, backward, Dalits together,” Gandhi had said.
The party has made a series of leadership changes in recent weeks, signalling a strategic shift. Krishna Allavaru was appointed as Bihar in-charge, and Rajesh Ram replaced Akhilesh Singh as the state Congress president. Shortly after, 40 district presidents were named, including 21 new faces and 19 reappointments. Gandhi also met with all district heads in Delhi on April 4 to discuss poll preparations.
With elections likely in October or November, the Congress appears determined to energise its cadre and assert itself as a serious player in the state’s political arena.
