The Congress shook off the disappointment of its dismal performance in Bihar Assembly elections in 2010, managing to successfully acquire 27 seats out of 40, in the alliance partnership with Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Sunday. In 2010, the Congress had cut a sorry figure in Bihar winning only 4 seats out of 243 assembly constituencies . Meanwhile, the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s strategy of weaving in the JD(U) and RJD as a collective force against the BJP, paid rich dividends as the combine won 178 seats.
Hailing the verdict, Rahul tweeted on Sunday, “This is a victory of unity over divisiveness. Humility over arrogance. Love over hate. A victory of the people of Bihar.” Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had addressed 30 rallies in Bihar while campaigning for the BJP, Rahul said it was time for Modi to tone down his “arrogance” or people would “throw him out”. He also asked Modi to stop his frequent foreign tours and instead go to meet farmers, labourers and youth to whom he promised jobs. “The truth is this victory is not against NDA but against the ideology of BJP, RSS and Modi. This is a message against putting Hindus against Muslims and making them fight to win elections. His vehicle is not starting. He should start it and press the accelerator. If you do not do it, people of India will open the door and throw you out as they have done in Bihar,” he said of Modi, adding as a PM it did not behove his stature to “pit one community against the other.”
Speaking to Millennium Post on the Bihar result, Congress leader Manish Tewari said, “The forces of pluralism and progressiveness have triumphed over the evil ogre of ‘right’ reaction and national subversion. The ‘cow’ has made it clear that it can give milk, but cannot be milked for votes.”
“Given that the struggle over the next forty-two months would be about and around the basic idea of India, therefore Bihar provides a good template for all secular forces to stand together,” added the former Union minister.
Rahul was the driving force behind the initiation of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ and making sure that former foes Nitish and Lalu came on board. Sources in the party said that it was the meeting between Rahul and Nitish, ahead of the Bihar polls which was pivotal to the plot that changed the political dynamics of the state.
“While Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the architect of the victory in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi is the architect of the alliance,” said Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam. It is the general refrain in the party with general secretary Shakeel Ahmed insisting that the Grand Alliance would not have been possible but for the pivotal role played by Rahul.