Congress dismisses speculation of quitting INDIA bloc after Bihar setback

Days after the INDIA bloc suffered one of its poorest electoral outcomes in Bihar, speculation surfaced that the Congress party was considering breaking away from the alliance. The Congress, which contested 61 seats, won only six performances widely described as one of its most disappointing in the state in recent years. Its aggressive campaign focused on allegations of ‘vote chori’, led by Rahul Gandhi, failed to translate into electoral gains.

The alliance also faced internal friction, with several instances of friendly fights where the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) fielded candidates against each other. These contests reportedly split the opposition vote in multiple constituencies and are believed to have contributed to the BJP’s decisive wins.

Amid the setbacks, reports suggested that the Congress was re-evaluating its position within the INDIA bloc and was considering contesting independently in states such as West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh in upcoming elections.

However, Congress General Secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal reportedly dismissed these claims, calling them unfounded. As per reports, he said the party had no intention of distancing itself from the alliance and was instead focused on strengthening it.

He was quoted as saying that the speculation was completely baseless and that the Congress remained fully committed to the INDIA bloc.

Formed in 2023 as a coalition of 26 opposition parties led by the Congress, the INDIA bloc was created to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party’s expanding political influence at the national level.