INDIA bloc’s Bihar rout triggers open war of words between RJD, Congress

The blame game between the RJD and the Congress has intensified as both parties hold review meetings to identify the reasons behind the INDIA Alliance’s crushing defeat in the Bihar Assembly Election 2025.

Congress leaders have accused RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav of delaying seat-sharing arrangements and allowing “friendly fights” on nearly a dozen seats, factors they say contributed significantly to the party’s embarrassing performance.

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On Saturday, RJD state president Mangni Lal Mandal hit back, criticising Congress leaders for shifting the blame onto the RJD.

In the recent elections, the INDIA bloc managed to secure only 35 of the 243 Assembly seats. The RJD contested 143 seats and won 25, while Congress won just 6 of the 61 seats it contested. The performance of other alliance partners was similarly poor.

During a review meeting at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, most Congress candidates blamed the RJD and Tejashwi Yadav for the alliance’s defeat. They cited delays in finalising seat-sharing and the “friendly fights” in several constituencies as major reasons for the party’s setback.

According to sources, the majority of candidates told the high command that the alliance with the RJD had harmed Congress’s prospects. They argued that the party would have performed better had it contested independently and urged the leadership to reconsider its ties with the RJD.

Responding sharply on Saturday, RJD state president Mandal criticised Congress for holding the RJD responsible for its losses.

“If they want to walk away, no one will stop them,” he said, fuelling speculation about the future of the alliance in Bihar.

Launching a direct attack, Mandal claimed that whatever seats or votes Congress secured in the Assembly elections were due to the RJD’s support.

“They will realise their real strength only when they go independent,” he said, asserting that the RJD’s strong support base in Bihar benefits its allies.

Referring to the 2020 elections, he added tauntingly, “In 2020, Congress demanded 72 seats but won only 19, and that too because of the RJD.”