In a TV-9 Digital meeting, former Congress President Akhilesh Singh made a significant statement, asserting that the Congress and RJD parties in Bihar cannot survive without each other. He was responding to a question about the Congress party’s decline since the JP movement, and the perception that the party is reliant on Lalu Prasad Yadav and the RJD for survival. Singh stated that both parties are interdependent. He cited the 2010 elections when the RJD and Congress contested separately, leading to a drastic reduction in seats for both. He emphasized the necessity of their alliance to counter the BJP’s coalition, given the social structure of Bihar.
Singh also pointed out that the Congress party has not been in power since the 1990s, with only occasional participation in coalition governments. He highlighted his own tenure as the Bihar Congress leader, stating that the party’s performance, particularly in the Lok Sabha elections during his presidency, showed improvement. He noted an increase in votes compared to the 2019 elections.
Singh further mentioned that the Congress’s strike rate in Bihar is higher than the RJD, despite winning fewer seats. When asked about the inclusion of Pappu Yadav in the Congress, Singh explained that alliances require compromises, and the Purnia seat issue was an example. He clarified that the Congress had to concede the seat due to the RJD’s concerns and a prior announcement by Lalu Prasad Yadav. Conversely, the Congress contested the Maharajganj seat, which the RJD had previously contested.