November 14, the birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru has traditionally been a day of political tribute and reflection for the Indian National Congress. This year, however, the date brought a harsh reality: as the final tally in the Bihar Assembly elections rolled in, Congress’s footprint in the state shrank to near-invisibility.
Although the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) fought hard, the Congress’s dismal strike rate turned into the anchor that dragged down the alliance’s prospects. Despite contesting a large number of seats, the party’s inability to convert those tickets into wins raises a deep and immediate questions about its organisational strength, it's local appeal and relevance in a state where it once held significant sway.
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Shrinking strike rate
Congress fielded 61 candidates under the MGB banner which was a sizeable share. Yet the party won only a handful of seats. The conversion rate plunged, making Congress not a contributor but a burden on the alliance’s final tally.
Failure to complement RJD’s core vote
The MGB strategy counted on Congress mobilising non-Yadav OBCs, Dalits and upper castes while RJD held the Muslim-Yadav core. But the results show Congress failed to channel anti-incumbency or RJD’s youthful campaign into votes in its constituencies. Segments like non-Yadav OBCs and EBCs largely stayed outside its orbit which was a win for NDA.
Campaign narrative lacked local connect
While national leaders talked about unemployment, migration and vote-theft narratives, the ground stories in Bihar demanded local resonance like caste arithmetic, panchayat-level issues and everyday development. Congress’s messaging lacked that proximity and that absence of a strong state-level face made the gap wider.
Organisational decay and grassroots weakness
Years of being the junior partner or out of power have eroded the Congress’s infrastructure. Unlike the RJD or the Bharatiya Janata Party, it lacked strong booth-level presence and final-hour mobilisation. Seat after marginal seat slipped through its fingers.
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Nehru’s legacy and a saffron rise
On the very day set aside to honour Nehru’s democratic and inclusive vision, Congress was left on the sidelines. Meanwhile, NDA celebrated a mandate that underlined BJP’s dominance within the alliance — a sharp reminder to Congress that its revival in Hindi-heartland states demands more than nostalgia and leaders on stage.
