‘No Match For BJP’s Hard Work’: Another Congress Leader Blames High Command For Bihar Loss | Elections News

Last Updated:November 26, 2025, 21:52 IST

Congress leader Rashid Alvi pointedly criticised Rahul Gandhi for being “inaccessible” and advocated for his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, to take up the party mantle

Congress leader Rashid Alvi criticised the central leadership of the party for sidelining senior leaders. (Image: News18 India)

Hours after Congress leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh opined that he did not expect such a poor result in the recently concluded Bihar assembly election, another party colleague attacked the central leadership for the devastating loss in the state.

Senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi blamed the central leadership for the crushing defeat in Bihar — the party only won six seats out of the 61 it contested as part of one of the main constituents of the opposition Mahagathbandhan led by the RJD. The ruling NDA, conversely, swept the election securing 202 seats in the 243-member assembly, with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party with 89 seats.

Acknowledging the NDA’s landslide victory, Alvi said the Congress was “no match for the BJP’s hard work” in Bihar. He pointedly criticised MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for being “inaccessible” and advocated for his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, to take up the party mantle.

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He laid direct blame on the Congress high command, stressing that it was solely responsible for the deplorable state of the party.

“We were no match for the BJP’s hard work,” Alvi said in an interview with News18 Hindi.

The Congress leader’s criticism is one of many remarks coming from within the party following its massive loss in the Bihar election. He alleged that not only is Gandhi inaccessible to his leaders and party workers, the central leadership also sidelined veteran figures in the run-up to the polls. 

His strong displeasure echoed criticisms that decisions are concentrated in the hands of a few people, ignoring workers who understand the ground. He noted the difficulty leaders and workers face in connecting with the central leadership and remarked that meeting Gandhi is not easy even for Congress leaders.

“Even Indira Gandhi was easily accessible,” he said.

Alvi’s most pointed demand, however, was a call for a change in leadership. “Priyanka Gandhi should take charge of the party as she reflects the qualities of her grandmother, Indira Gandhi,” he added.

There has been a massive public backlash, mostly targeting Gandhi, within the party since the Bihar debacle. Akhilesh Prasad Singh previously noted that such a poor result was not expected and acknowledged that people are angry and that a high-level review will discuss shortcomings and necessary corrective measures.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has also promised a “thorough study” of the defeat, though critics suggested the party relies on introspection rather than fundamental reform.

Other senior figures like Lok Sabha MP Tariq Anwar pointed to specific strategic failures like the controversial appointment of Krishna Allavaru as the Bihar poll incharge, calling it a “wrong decision”. He lamented that the overall selection of candidates was flawed and that “many seniors were not consulted”.

Congress leader Karti Chidambaram also listed organisational deficiencies, including a collapse in grassroots mobilisation, inconsistent messaging, and a failure to engage new voter segments. Shashi Tharoor, the ever-present dissenter, expressed discomfort with the party’s role in the Mahagathbandhan and claimed that he was not invited to campaign in Bihar.

From Bihar, it was Congress leader Mumtaz Patel who accused the high command of concentrating decision-making power and ignoring dedicated cadres.

While Gandhi has attributed the crushing loss to an “unfair” election that was “not fair from the very beginning”, many within the party believe such explanations no longer resonate. This festering rift has even prompted the state Congress unit to expel seven leaders, accusing them of “anti-party activity and making baseless allegations of ticket racketeering”.

Oindrila Mukherjee

Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st…Read More

Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st… Read More

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