New Delhi: The Congress anticipates reaping rewards from the INDIA bloc’s synergy in Bihar, deploying party president Mallikarjun Kharge to campaign in Katihar on April 19, with former party chief Rahul Gandhi campaigning in Kishanganj on April 20.

The Congress secured its traditional stronghold in Katihar after intense negotiations with the RJD, fielding former MP and ex-CWC member Tariq Anwar as its candidate.

“Kharge’s rally on April 19 will substantially enhance my campaign. The INDIA alliance is functioning actively on the ground. Our coalition partners are now mobilized across the state,” Tariq Anwar stated to ETV Bharat.

The Congress is backing its incumbent Kishanganj MP Mohamed Jawed for a second tenure.

In the 2019 national elections, the Congress contested nine of 40 seats and clinched only Kishanganj. The RJD contended for 19 seats but did not secure any. The BJP contested 17 seats and won all 17, the JD-U contested 17 and secured 16, while the LJNSP contested six and claimed all six.

In 2024, the Congress is vying for nine seats, the RJD for 26, and the Left parties for five as part of the INDIA bloc, emphasizing social justice and welfare.

“I’ve requested Rahul Gandhi to lead a rally in Kishanganj on April 20. This will invigorate our campaign significantly. The INDIA bloc is mounting a formidable challenge, and we anticipate winning more than half the seats this time,” Mohamed Jawed conveyed to ETV Bharat.

The remaining seven Congress-allocated seats are Bhagalpur, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, West Champaran, Patna Sahib, Sasaram, and Maharajganj.

Congress leaders note the party’s social justice platform resonates strongly with those dissatisfied with the ruling BJP-JD-U alliance.

“The Congress-RJD coalition’s single seat win in 2019 will improve substantially this time. The Congress’s social justice assurances are being positively received. Bihar has long championed social justice. Voters are discontented with JD-U leader and chief minister Nitish Kumar’s departure from our alliance and return to the BJP. They will reprimand the ruling coalition,” Tariq Anwar asserted.

Anwar and Jawed noted that cooperation within the opposition coalition is proceeding effectively on the ground, with collaborative rallies featuring prominent leaders in the works.

“In my parliamentary district, four RJD MLAs are active and surpassing my own efforts. Collaborative work between coalition members is occurring on the ground. Leading figures will also campaign statewide,” Jawed explained.

However, party insiders mentioned that Rahul Gandhi declined a request from the RJD to campaign in the Purnia seat to prevent causing confusion within the alliance.

Local figure Rajesh Ranjan, known as Pappu Yadav, who is running in Purnia as an independent, has received support from Congress workers, while the RJD’s Bima Bharti is the alliance’s candidate. Pappu had merged his Jan Adhikar Party with Congress hoping for a nomination, but the seat fell to the RJD’s share.

Pappu Yadav’s decision to run independently has irked Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh, but former RJD leader Devendra Prasad Yadav has since supported him.