Congress Expels 7 Leaders in Bihar Amid Infighting Over Election Debacle
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In a move to quell internal dissent, the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) has expelled seven leaders from the party's primary membership for six years, citing anti-party activities and breaches of discipline during the recent Bihar assembly elections. However, the decision has sparked fresh controversy, with dissidents accusing the party of scapegoating junior leaders to avoid accountability for the electoral rout. The expelled leaders, including Aditya Paswan, Shakeelur Rahman, and Raj Kumar Sharma, were accused of deviating from the party's core ideology, breaching organisational decorum, and issuing misleading statements outside party platforms. The disciplinary panel stated that their actions violated three out of five disciplinary norms, including deliberate disregard for directives from competent authorities and spreading confusion within the organisation. The expulsions come amid growing internal turmoil following the Congress's dismal performance in the 2025 Bihar Assembly polls, where the party failed to meet expectations, contributing to the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) government formation. A section of party leaders has questioned the legitimacy of the disciplinary committee, arguing it lacks formal notification from the AICC, unlike other panels. The party is also facing criticism over the denial of tickets to deserving candidates, with Bihar Mahila Congress Committee chief Sharbat Jahan Fatima resigning from her post in protest. The move underscores simmering frustrations over ticket distribution, which dissidents claim favored influential figures at the expense of grassroots leaders. In response to the electoral drubbing, BPCC president Rajesh Ram has initiated a comprehensive review process, directing district Congress committee presidents to convene urgent review meetings to dissect the political, organisational, and regional factors behind the defeats. The party is gearing up for nationwide campaigns to rally support, including "Save the Constitution" programs on Constitution Day and a major rally scheduled for December 14 at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. The rally, dubbed "Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod Mahrally," aims to protect voting rights, ensure electoral fairness, and restore credibility to democratic institutions amid allegations of voter suppression, targeted deletions, and data manipulation by the BJP and Election Commission. The party's leadership has described the event as a collective call to safeguard democracy and the Constitution.
