Congress Firmly Denies Reports of Bihar MLAs Planning to Desert Party
The Congress party on Friday issued a strong rebuttal to circulating reports suggesting that its six legislators in Bihar, who were elected during last November's state assembly polls, were planning to desert the party. Senior party leaders categorically labeled these claims as "bogus news" and completely baseless rumors aimed at destabilizing the party's position in the state.
Key Meeting in Delhi Addresses Speculation
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal addressed reporters after a crucial brainstorming session with Bihar leaders at the residence of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi. "There were rumours that all our MLAs are deserting the party. But all of them were present at today's meeting. These are all bogus news. Such rumours being spread against the Congress are completely baseless," Venugopal stated emphatically.
The meeting, convened by Kharge himself, saw the presence of several prominent figures, including the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. This high-level gathering was organized specifically to address the growing speculation and to strategize the party's approach in Bihar following the recent electoral outcomes.
Context of the Recent Bihar Assembly Elections
The Congress had contested 61 seats as part of the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance in the Bihar assembly elections. The party managed to secure six seats, while the largest constituent of the alliance, the RJD, contested 143 seats but won only 25. In contrast, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP and JD(U), registered a landslide victory, significantly altering the political landscape of the state.
Origin of the Defection Rumors
Speculation regarding the possible defection of Congress MLAs began to surface when the six legislators reportedly skipped a feast organized by the party ahead of the Makar Sankranti festival. This absence fueled rumors and media reports suggesting internal discord and potential exits from the party.
The six Congress MLAs, whose commitment to the party has now been reaffirmed, are:
- Surendra Prasad (Valmiki Nagar)
- Abhishek Ranjan (Chanpatia)
- Manoj Bishwas (Forbesganj)
- Abidur Rahman (Araria)
- Qamrul Hoda (Kishanganj)
- Manohar Prasad Singh (Manihari)
Venugopal's statement and the confirmed attendance of all MLAs at the Delhi meeting appear to have put these rumors to rest, at least for the time being. The Congress leadership has emphasized unity and dismissed any notions of internal rift or planned defections as politically motivated fabrications.
