Missing in action: the chief, her deputy

In the fierce, no-hostage-taken fight for Bihar, Congress is the only political party missing in action.

Besides the sole appearance made by Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the joint rally organised by the Mahagatbandhan on August 30, and the visit by party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on October 7, the grand old party is the lone political force that seems to be taking it easy. The next public meeting scheduled for Rahul Gandhi in Bihar is after a gap of 11 days, on Sunday.

Contrast this with the Congress’ alliance partners – Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav – who are addressing between seven to eight election rallies every day, besides holding strategy sessions late in the night and overseeing day-to-day affairs.

From the BJP’s side, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already addressed as many as 16 rallies, while his Cabinet colleagues from Bihar – Ravi Shankar Prasad, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Giriraj Singh, Radha Mohan Singh, et al – are camping in the State with party President Amit Shah.

Even the junior alliance partners in the rival NDA camp –  Jitan Ram Manjhi,  Ramvilas Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha – are touring the State on an everyday basis. Ramvilas Paswan, whose Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) is contesting almost a similar number of seats in Bihar as the Congress, has been stationed in Bihar for the past several months along with his son, Jamui MP Chirag Paswan.

The JD(U) and RJD, which have been running a coordinated campaign with both sides strategising where the leaders should address rallies, are exasperated with the Congress’ attitude.

The top leaders’ indifference to Bihar has percolated down to the local leadership, which shows little signs of moving around to appeal for votes in this make-or-break election.

“What stops Rahul Gandhi from doing a couple of roadshows in Patna? Their indifference to the campaign is shocking,” said a top JD(U) strategist who refused to be named.

“Ideally, they should even be campaigning in the seats that we or the RJD is contesting because as alliance partners, we are contributing to each other’s campaign. Nitish ji  is going to Lalu ji ’s sons’ constituencies today. But forget about campaigning for an alliance partner, they are not even interested in campaigning in their own 41 seats,” this JD(U) source said.

The Congress’ local unit President Ashok Choudhary, for instance, has been urged by his alliance partners to spend time in constituencies such as Gaya and Aurangabad where it can give a tough fight to the BJP. “But no one wants to go anywhere,” said another JD(U) source.

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