Expelled Bihar Congress leaders protest at Delhi HQ, seek Rahul Gandhi meeting
Expelled Bihar Congress leaders protested at the party HQ, demanding a meeting with Rahul Gandhi and reinstatement.
A group of Congress leaders from Bihar, who were expelled from the party following the state assembly elections, staged a protest on Monday at the party's headquarters in Delhi. They are seeking an appointment with Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to present their grievances directly.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, former Bihar Congress spokesperson Anand Madhab said that despite repeated attempts to raise their concerns within the state, they were not heard, forcing them to come to Delhi. He described the party headquarters as "our own house" and said they wanted to apprise the leadership of the ground realities of the Bihar Congress.
The protesters have put forward a set of demands, including an immediate meeting with Rahul Gandhi, withdrawal of all notices and expulsion proceedings against loyal workers, and their reinstatement to party roles. They have also called for the removal of Bihar AICC in-charge Krishna Allavaru and state president Rajesh Kumar, arguing that this would help restore trust and allow the party to reorganise afresh.
Among those participating in the protest were former MLAs Anil Singh, Chhatrapati Yadav, Poonam Devi, and former Bihar Pradesh Congress vice-president Jamal Ahmed Bhallu. During the demonstration, some other Bihar Congress workers came out in support of Allavaru and Kumar, leading to heated exchanges between the two groups.
The action against these leaders stems from the party's decision to initiate disciplinary proceedings against 43 leaders after the election defeat, citing alleged anti-party activities and indiscipline. Most of the protesters were among those who faced such action.
Responding to the protest, Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Kumar said that those protesting were ticket seekers who did not meet the criteria set by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and were denied tickets. He added that they also faced complaints of anti-party activities. Kumar further alleged that these leaders had been holding protests in Patna and approaching the media, and claimed that some BJP leaders were supporting them. He also noted that their social media activity did not reflect the issues raised by Rahul Gandhi, such as the Haldwani incident.