The Congress on Friday delivered one of its poorest electoral performances in Bihar’s history, winning only six of the 61 seats it contested in the Assembly elections.
The party, which once dominated Bihar politics, managed to finish just ahead of Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM and Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), both of which secured five seats each.
This outcome marks the Congress’ second-worst show ever in the state, narrowly better than its tally of four seats in 2010. The party secured a vote share of 8.75 per cent, slightly higher than the 8.17 per cent recorded 15 years ago.
Senior Leaders Defeated
The Congress’ state unit president Rajesh Kumar lost from the Kutumba seat, where he was defeated by NDA’s HAM candidate Lalan Ram.
Shakeel Ahmed Khan, the legislature party leader in the outgoing assembly, was defeated by JD(U) candidate Dulal Chandra Goswami from the Kadwa seat by a margin of 18,368 votes.
Winning Congress Candidates
The six Congress candidates who succeeded are:
- Surendra Prasad (Valmiki Nagar)
- Abhisekh Ranjan (Chanpatia)
- Manoj Bishwas (Forbesganj)
- Abidur Rehman (Araria)
- Mohd. Qamrul Hoda (Kishanganj)
- Manohar Prasad Singh (Manihari)
‘Vote Chori’ Narrative Fails to Connect
The Congress’ campaign, centred heavily around Rahul Gandhi’s 'vote chori' charge, did not resonate with voters.
The party’s messaging through Gandhi’s "Voter Adhikar Yatra", anti-Election Commission statements, SIR criticism, and appeals to the youth to "restore democracy" had little impact.
In a state where 40% of the population is below 18 and 23% is between 18 and 29, the Congress failed to attract young voters.
The caste census pitch—once a significant Opposition plank—lost relevance after the NDA announced caste inclusion in the upcoming census.
Structural, Organisational Challenges Deepen
Persistent issues within the Opposition alliance also contributed to the Congress’ poor show. RJD, Congress, and Left candidates clashed on at least eight seats, diluting the coalition’s influence.
Lack of unity, failure to project a cohesive narrative, and leadership shortcomings—including the political handling by state in-charge Krishna Allavaru—added to the party’s struggles.
NDA’s Advantage
The ruling NDA benefited from:
- Strong pro-incumbency
- Support from women, youth and extremely backward classes
- Schemes such as ₹10,000 under Mahila Rozgar Yojana
- Job promises and pension assurances
- Effective messaging around the RJD’s ‘jungle raj’ period
Fragmentation of anti-NDA votes due to Tej Pratap Yadav contesting separately and Prashant Kishore’s Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) further boosted NDA's performance.
Historical Decline Continues
The Congress, which once won 239 seats with 41.38% voteshare in 1952, has seen a steady decline for decades:
- 196 seats in 1985
- 71 in 1990
- 29 in 1995
- 23 in 2000
- Single digits in 2005
- Only six seats in 2024, representing one of its worst performances
Road Ahead Looks Challenging
Insiders say the party must “return to the drawing board” to rework its organisational structure, strategy, and voter engagement. With the EC initiating special intensive revision (SIR) in states going to polls next year, the Congress must decide whether to continue its 'vote theft' campaign or craft a new narrative.
The Bihar setback comes ahead of major battles in Assam and Kerala in 2026, where it faces a strong BJP and CPI(M), respectively. In West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, the party remains a marginal player.