Rahul Gandhi to address virtual rallies in poll-bound Bihar amid chaos in Congress party

Amid internal chaos in Congress, Rahul Gandhi is set to campaign in upcoming assembly polls in Bihar, said sources on Saturday. Rahul Gandhi's eyes at Congress fortune in Bihar as well as aims to motivate party workers ahead of campaign season, sources added. Congress' election in-charge and national secretary Ajay Kapoor said that former Congress chief will conduct 100 virtual rallies throughout state from September 1 to 21.

“Each rally will be addressed by two national leaders, five state leaders and 10 district-level leaders who will talk about people’s cause and how Congress would provide redressal of public issues. To mobilise masses for this program, a missed call campaign will also be launched,” he added. On question of seat distribution in grand alliance, he said that it was up to high command to decide on such matters. “It will be amicably done in atmosphere of mutual respect,” he added.

Congress' campaign comes at a time when Mahagathbandhan has already lost one of its key alliances - former CM JItan Ram Manjhi's HAM. decision to walk out of five-party opposition coalition in Bihar was taken at Hindustani Awam Morcha's core committee meeting at Manjhi's residence in Patna. Manjhi's step to quit Mahagathbandhan also comes days after former JDU Dalit leader Shyam Rajak joined RJD.

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Bihar assembly elections 

Amid rising COVID-19 cases, Bihar is all set to go to polls for a 243-member assembly seat this year. While BJP and JDU have said that y will contest polls with CM Nitish Kumar as leader, Mahagathbandhan consisting of RJD, Congress, HAM, and ors are still discussing name of former CM Lalu Yadav's son Tejashwi Yadav. 

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While Kumar faces strong anti-incumbency, RJD - Bihar's main opposition has lost luster it once had due to absence of it's chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.  Meanwhile, former JDU vice president Prashant Kishor has also claimed that he is working at 'ground level' for development of Bihar.  In a twist of sorts, London-based Pushpam Priya Choudhary, daughter of JDU leader Bid Choudhary, on March 8 declared herself as Chief Ministerial candidate.

In 2015 assembly polls, CM Nitish Kumar's JDU, n a part of Mahagathbandhan won 71 seats, Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD won 80 seats, and Congress won 27 seats. BJP which fought elections alone after Kumar in 2013 broke 17-year-old alliance won a mere 53 seats out of 157 contested. However, saffron party came back to power when Kumar ditched Mahagathbandhan and once again stitched an alliance with BJP.

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