With the Bihar Assembly elections fast approaching, the INDIA bloc is grappling with significant internal strife. On Sunday, widespread discontent emerged among party members concerning the distribution of tickets for the upcoming polls.
Mohammad Afaque Alam, the current Congress MLA for Kasba, who was denied a nomination, has made grave accusations against key Bihar Congress figures. He claims that Krishna Allavaru (Bihar Congress in-charge), Rajesh Ram (BPCC president), and Shakeel Ahmed Khan (Congress Legislative Party leader) are involved in a “cash-for-ticket” scheme. Alam has publicly called for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to launch an immediate investigation into these serious allegations of financial impropriety.
The controversy ignited after the Congress Election Committee announced five new candidates on Saturday night, notably replacing the three-time sitting MLA, Mohammad Afaque Alam, with Mohammad Irfan Alam for the Kasba Assembly constituency.
In a powerful video message shared on social media, Mr. Afaque Alam declared, “The party’s integrity has been severely compromised. I unequivocally state that Rajesh Ram, Allavaru, and Shakeel Ahamed Khan, along with other leaders, have demanded money for tickets, tarnishing the ‘Grand Alliance.’ Rahul Gandhi must personally intervene and conduct a thorough investigation into this ticket allocation process.”
Adding fuel to the fire, an audio recording, reportedly a phone conversation between Mr. Afaque Alam and Mr. Ram, quickly circulated across social media. In the clip, Alam is heard imploring the BPCC president to use his influence with the party’s high command in Delhi to secure his ticket.
However, in the same audio, Mr. Ram expressed his frustration and inability to help, stating he had done his utmost, even signing Alam’s documents. He lamented that “other ways” were at play within the party, and implied that senior leadership was unresponsive to his efforts, essentially conveying his hands were tied.
Mr. Ram also implicated Purnea MP Rajesh Ranjan, known as Pappu Yadav, in the selection of Mr. Irfan Alam, who is reportedly a close associate of the MP. A video featuring Mr. Pappu Yadav and Mr. Irfan Alam had previously gone viral on social media on Friday. The Kasba Assembly constituency is located within the Purnea district.
The fallout extended further as Anand Madhab, the spokesperson and chairman of the BPCC’s research department, resigned abruptly on Saturday. He joined other disgruntled party leaders, including a sitting MLA and a former MLA, in accusing Mr. Allavaru and Mr. Ram of actively “selling” party tickets.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is experiencing similar internal turmoil. Madan Prasad, who previously contested from the Madhuban Assembly constituency, staged a dramatic protest outside former Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s residence, tearing his kurta and lying on the road in despair over being denied a ticket.
Mr. Prasad explicitly alleged that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s political advisor, Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Yadav, withheld his ticket because Prasad refused to meet a demanded payment. “He asked for ₹2.7 crore for the ticket, but I declined. Sanjay Yadav has sold the ticket,” Prasad claimed publicly.
Adding to the RJD’s woes, Ritu Jaiswal, another party leader who ran from the Parihar Assembly seat in 2020, announced her intention to contest as an independent candidate after being denied a ticket. She posted on social media, stating, “My conscience forbids me from contesting from any constituency other than Parihar. I have unequivocally informed the party leadership that if their decision remains unchanged, I will run as an independent candidate from Parihar.”
The Parihar ticket was ultimately awarded to Smita Purve, the daughter-in-law of former RJD State president Ramchandra Purve.
In a follow-up post, Ms. Jaiswal reaffirmed her decision, appealing to voters: “I wish to inform all respected voters of the Parihar Assembly constituency that I will be filing my nomination as an independent candidate from Parihar tomorrow morning. I urge all my friends, well-wishers, and supporters to join me in large numbers and offer your blessings.”
Seizing the opportunity, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary criticized the INDIA bloc, questioning the very foundation of their alliance. “It’s unclear whether the alliance has even solidified. The real question is, does the ‘Grand Alliance’ truly exist anymore?” Mr. Choudhary remarked.