Former Congress Leader Shakeel Ahmad Alleges Threat to His Residences Amid Escalating Rahul Gandhi Row
In a dramatic escalation of political tensions, former Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad has claimed that his residences face imminent threats of attack from party workers. This alarming development comes just days after Ahmad publicly labeled Rahul Gandhi as "darpok" (coward) and "insecure", sparking a fierce backlash within the Congress party.
WhatsApp Message Circulated Calling for Effigy Burning Protest
On Tuesday, Ahmad shared a screenshot of a WhatsApp message that he alleges was circulated among Congress members. The message explicitly calls for district and assembly-level leaders to burn his effigy on December 27, 2026, as a strong protest against what it terms his "inappropriate statements" about Rahul Gandhi.
Sharing these chats on social media platform X, Ahmad wrote with pointed sarcasm: "Now my information has turned out to be absolutely spot on. Many thanks to the old mates from Congress. There's a saying in our Bihar that old friends are the ones who come in handy. Is this happening without Rahul ji's orders?"
Allegations of Planned Attacks on Patna and Madhubani Residences
The controversy intensified further when Ahmad made another serious allegation in a late Monday post. He claimed that the Congress leadership in Bihar has "ordered" party workers to attack his residences in Patna and Madhubani.
"Just now, some colleagues from the Congress have secretly informed me that the Congress national leadership has ordered the Bihar Congress/Youth Congress to attack my residences in Patna and Madhubani tomorrow, January 27, under the pretext of burning an effigy," Ahmad wrote on X, raising serious concerns about political violence.
Background of the Bitter Political Exchange
The current controversy stems from Ahmad's scathing remarks about Gandhi during a recent interview. "Rahul Gandhi is a coward and an insecure person. He does not get that 'boss feeling' before anyone who is senior to him or has a big public support. He is uncomfortable with any such person and is thus dictatorial and not democratic," he told PTI, delivering one of the most personal attacks on the Congress scion in recent memory.
Congress leader Manickam Tagore responded sharply to Ahmad's allegations, branding him a "betrayer" and "Jaichand" in a social media post. "I am not shocked. Just saddened, yet again, by how betrayal becomes loud when courage walks the longest road," Tagore wrote, suggesting that such attacks were motivated by desires for "TV time, relevance and pleasing new masters."
Ahmad's Political Journey and Broader Accusations
Shakeel Ahmad, a former Union minister and ex-Congress general secretary who left the party after the 2025 Bihar elections, has leveled multiple accusations against the Congress leadership. Beyond the current controversy, he has accused Rahul Gandhi of systematically sidelining senior leaders within the party.
Furthermore, Ahmad has alleged that Gandhi influenced the 2022 party presidential poll in favor of Mallikarjun Kharge, raising questions about internal party democracy. These broader accusations add significant context to the current bitter exchange and highlight deeper rifts within the Congress organization.
The escalating situation raises serious questions about political discourse and the potential for violence in Indian politics. As allegations and counter-allegations fly between the former Congress leader and current party members, observers are watching closely to see how this controversy develops and what implications it might have for political dynamics in Bihar and beyond.
