The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting at the historic Sadaqat Ashram in Patna this week signals that the grand old party is determined to lead the opposition INDIA bloc ahead of the upcoming Bihar assembly polls. The party aims to build on the perceived success of Rahul Gandhi’s 1,300-km ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’.

The Congress lost power in Bihar in 1990 and has, since, weakened in both organisational strength and electoral presence often playing second fiddle to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), especially since their alliance at the Centre under the UPA government.

However, 20 years is a significant period in politics. With the Congress now focused on reviving its organisations in states where it had lost ground, Bihar presents an interesting opportunity.

The RJD, under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav, is not as strong as it was during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s prime. The party has not secured a majority on its own since the 2005 assembly polls. Its solo attempts in elections, particularly the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, have been unsuccessful.........

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