Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Tariq Anwar has openly criticized his own party's handling of the Bihar Assembly elections, pointing to serious coordination failures among alliance partners and poor leadership decisions that led to the Mahagathbandhan's humiliating defeat.
Internal Party Failures Exposed
In a candid interview with The Indian Express on November 15, 2025, the Congress MP from Katihar did not mince words when identifying those responsible for the electoral setback. He directly named Congress state in-charge Krishna Allavaru, CLP leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan, and state president Rajesh Kumar as the key figures accountable for the poor performance.
"Our people in positions are responsible for lack of coordination," Anwar stated unequivocally. "Our state in charge Krishna Allavaru and others monitoring the elections like CLP leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan and state president Rajesh Kumar were responsible for the elections."
Multiple Factors Behind Electoral Debacle
The former Union Minister highlighted several critical issues that contributed to the alliance's poor showing. He described the outcome as a significant setback for both the Congress and the broader Mahagathbandhan coalition.
Among the external factors, Anwar pointed to the direct cash transfer of Rs 10,000 to women's bank accounts by the ruling party, which he claimed substantially increased women's voter turnout. He expressed disappointment that the Election Commission of India did not intervene despite this potentially violating the model code of conduct.
Additionally, he cited the polarizing campaign rhetoric, specifically mentioning the use of the term 'ghuspaithiya' (infiltrators) by the Prime Minister, which he believes created divisions between Hindu and Muslim communities.
Structural Problems in Campaign Management
Anwar revealed serious flaws in the party's internal processes, particularly in ticket distribution and committee formation. The ticket allocation process was described as haphazard, with no clear criteria for candidate selection.
"Those who lost in 2020 by big margins shouldn't have been given tickets. This wasn't done," he explained, highlighting the lack of strategic thinking in candidate selection.
The coordination between Congress and its main ally RJD also came under scrutiny. Anwar confirmed that there was no proper coordination and the joint campaign lacked planning. The absence of a unified campaign strategy significantly weakened the alliance's electoral prospects.
Leadership Absences and Strategic Gaps
Notably, Anwar pointed out that Rahul Gandhi was absent during critical phases of election preparation. The Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition was abroad for a considerable period during the elections and missed important meetings, including the formation of the screening committee and ticket distribution discussions.
While Gandhi's Voter Adhikar Yatra initially generated momentum around the 'vote chori' issue, Anwar remained uncertain about whether this narrative ultimately resonated with voters or influenced their decisions at the polling stations.
Call for Comprehensive Strategy Review
The Congress veteran emphasized the urgent need for the party to revisit its national strategy and campaign approach. He stressed that a political party cannot rely on a single issue or narrative and must address multiple concerns that impact elections.
Anwar also called for stricter regulations against what he termed "purchasing votes" through pre-election financial incentives, urging the Election Commission to implement rules preventing such practices in the six months leading up to elections.
The frank assessment from a senior party insider signals growing internal pressure for accountability and substantial organizational reforms within the Congress party following the Bihar electoral defeat.
