Congress Leadership Denies Bihar MLAs Defection Speculation After High-Level Delhi Meeting
The Congress party on Friday firmly dismissed widespread reports suggesting that its six newly elected legislators from Bihar were on the brink of deserting the party. This strong rebuttal came immediately after these MLAs participated in a significant closed-door meeting with the party's top leadership in New Delhi, where they received explicit instructions to intensify their public engagement activities across the state of Bihar.
High-Profile Meeting at Kharge's Residence
The crucial gathering took place at the official residence of Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, featuring an impressive assembly of senior leaders. The meeting was attended by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, alongside the six Bihar MLAs and several prominent senior leaders from the state. This important interaction occurred against a backdrop of intense political speculation, primarily fueled by the unexpected delay in appointing the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader for the Bihar assembly and persistent rumors about potential defections to the Janata Dal (United).
Venugopal Dismisses Rumors as Baseless
Following the conclusion of the meeting, KC Venugopal categorically rejected all speculation regarding defections. "There were malicious rumors circulating that all our MLAs were planning to desert our party. However, they were all physically present in today's meeting, demonstrating their commitment," Venugopal stated emphatically. "These reports are completely bogus news items. The types of rumors being systematically spread against the Congress party are entirely baseless and without any factual foundation," he added, addressing media queries directly.
Strategic Directions for Bihar Engagement
The Congress high command issued clear directives to both the MLAs and senior state leaders during the meeting, instructing them to actively address both major policy matters and local issues of public concern. They were specifically tasked with carrying the party's core ideology and message directly to the people of Bihar through sustained grassroots engagement. Interestingly, these instructions were delivered even as the decision regarding the appointment of the CLP leader was formally deferred to a later date.
CLP Leader Selection Process Discussed
"The matter concerning the selection of the Congress Legislature Party leader was thoroughly discussed during our meeting with the high command," revealed a senior Congress lawmaker from Bihar who attended the gathering. "The announcement will be made shortly by the party leadership at the appropriate time," the legislator confirmed, while noting that all discussions took place in a "very cordial and constructive atmosphere."
Comprehensive Participation and Review
According to additional party sources, all six MLAs attended the meeting without exception, with each legislator actively participating alongside Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Council. They collectively shared their perspectives, insights, and concerns regarding the functioning and challenges facing the state unit in Bihar. "None of the six MLAs absented themselves from this important meeting," emphasized a reliable party source, directly countering the defection narratives.
Positive Outcomes and Strategic Planning
Former Bihar Congress chief Madan Mohan Jha observed that "all participants returned from the meeting feeling happy and thoroughly satisfied with the discussions and outcomes." Party insiders indicated that the meeting conducted a comprehensive review of multiple critical aspects, including the recent assembly election results, ongoing organizational issues, and the specific reasons behind the delay in naming the CLP leader. This review gains particular significance as the budget session of the Bihar assembly is scheduled to commence from February 2nd.
Leadership Emphasizes Public Connection
During the deliberations, Rahul Gandhi urged all leaders to consistently raise people's issues before the government while maintaining strong connections with their constituents. Simultaneously, Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized the necessity of sustained mobilization on the streets and in public spaces as a fundamental strategy to rebuild and strengthen the Congress party's presence and influence across Bihar.
