“Unhappy with the Bihar ticket distribution, seniors are not respected in this Congress,” Shakeel Ahmed questions Rahul Gandhi
Shakeel Ahmad Resigns: Following Shakeel Ahmed’s resignation from the Bihar Congress, a new revelation has now emerged. This revelation was made by Shakeel Ahmed himself. He has raised questions about ticket distribution and the new Congress of Rahul Gandhi’s era. Patna: Senior Congress leader Dr. Shakeel Ahmed has resigned from the party’s primary membership. He stated, “I am saddened. I was also unhappy with the ticket distribution in the Bihar elections.” Shakeel Ahmed resigned from the Congress in a lengthy letter. Although he cited personal reasons in the letter, he later revealed the truth in a conversation. Shakeel Ahmed was unhappy with the ticket distribution Senior leader Dr. Shakeel Ahmed said, “The reason is that I am angry, and what happened in the elections, especially the ticket distribution, was disappointing.” Although I announced three years ago that I wouldn’t contest elections. People stay in the party for family, but none of my sons wants to join the party now. People also stay in the party for respect and recognition, and if that’s not provided, why would anyone stay? Seniors are no longer respected in the Congress – Shakeel Ahmed Taking a dig at the party, he said, “Only those created by Rahul Gandhi are left in the party today. Why should we stay where seniors are not respected? We are resigning from the party, but we still have full faith in it. It’s not so easy to say that Rahul Gandhi’s leadership is failing. If senior leaders, even those who have said they don’t want to become MPs or MLAs, nor do they want their children to become MLAs, are still in the party, it’s for respect and recognition.” The decision was made 15 days ago. He said, “I deliberately chose today because I had made the decision 15 days ago, but I didn’t want to send the wrong message by resigning in the middle of the elections. I didn’t want the party to lose even five votes because of me, so I didn’t resign earlier. The elections ended at 6 p.m., and I sent my resignation to the Congress President around 6:05-6:10 p.m.” Exit polls aren’t always accurate – Shakeel On the IANS-Matterize exit poll for the Bihar Assembly elections, Dr. Shakeel Ahmed said, “I haven’t seen any exit polls yet, but exit polls and opinion polls aren’t always accurate. Even in 2015, all opinion polls and exit polls failed. We don’t believe they are always accurate.” Edited by: Rishikesh Narayan Singh About the Author Rishikesh Narayan Singh is in-charge of Bihar-Jharkhand for Navbharat Times Digital. His 20-year journey in journalism spanned from Janmat TV, IBN7, ETV Bihar-Jharkhand, News18 Bihar-Jharkhand to Times Internet. After starting in the national capital, Delhi, he now works in Bihar. Courtesy: Hindi News
NDA netas defend EC, say opposition has conceded defeat
Patna: The NDA on Monday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the opposition’s chief ministerial face, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, saying they had “accepted defeat even before the second phase” of the Bihar assembly elections scheduled for Tuesday. Reacting to the Congress and RJD’s allegations against the Election Commission (EC), former Union minister and Patna Sahib MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said the opposition routinely questioned democratic institutions whenever outcomes did not favour them. “It is their habit to attack vital organs of democracy. How did they win in Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh? How did Rahul Gandhi win in Uttar Pradesh?” he asked, countering Rahul and Tejashwi’s charge that the EC was a “tool of the BJP”. Responding to Tejashwi’s question on why industries were being set up in BJP-ruled states and not in Bihar, Prasad said he knew Rahul Gandhi “does not do homework”. “It seems Tejashwi has fallen prey to the same condition after staying with the LoP. Seventeen ethanol projects have been started in Bihar. Textile and readymade garment factories have come up in Bettiah, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Begusarai and Hajipur. Biscuit and food processing units have been set up in Hajipur and Bihta. MoUs worth Rs1.8 lakh crore have been signed for investments in Bihar. We are winning even after 20 years of remaining in power because of people’s trust in the NDA,” he said. Senior JD(U) leader and minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said that despite two decades of continuous rule, not a single voice had been raised against chief minister Nitish Kumar. “This is an incredible achievement. Nitish is the only CM whose popularity has increased as his tenure has progressed, and today he is even more popular than in 2010. No matter what the opposition may say in its discordant voice, the public has trust in Nitish Kumar,” he said. Choudhary added that the opposition’s entire campaign was based on “false and baseless” assertions. “Rumours were spread claiming the govt would withdraw Rs10,000 each given to Jeevika Didis. Similarly, the opposition questioned the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls just to appease the minorities,” he said. On Tejashwi’s allegation that security forces were being deployed only from BJP-ruled states, JD(U) leader and minister Ashok Choudhary clarified, “The EC calls in reinforcements from places where there is a surplus and no tension.” Referring to Tejashwi’s criticism of PM Narendra Modi for campaigning alongside strongmen, Ashok Choudhary asked, “Who is Ritlal Yadav? Is he the Shankaracharya? RJD chief Lalu Prasad campaigned for him. A criminal was murdered in Siwan, and you went there in a helicopter. What message were you trying to convey?” Regarding the Congress’s charge on Bihar’s backwardness, LJP (RV) Bihar incharge and Jamui MP Arun Bharti said the party should first present its own record. “Bihar had about 25% contribution to the country’s GDP, with around 40% sugar and 60% coal supplied from the state after independence. Patna University was among the top universities. Who snatched this advantage of Bihar?” he asked. RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha said the public mood clearly favoured the NDA. “The people’s sentiments visible everywhere clearly tell the opposition, ‘Kyon pade ho chakkar mein, nahin hai koi takkar mein (why are you so confused? No one is in competition).’ The atmosphere is completely in the NDA’s favour,” he added. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi spoke to Gen Z on reservations, business-education in Bihar, and the RSS, and made these remarks on politics.
While speaking to Gen Z children, Rahul Gandhi responded to a question about caste-based reservations by stating that he was not talking about reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but rather that he wanted every section of society to have access to the country’s resources according to their population. New Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has been frequently discussing the new generation recently. He also urged Gen Z to participate in the Bihar elections. In this context, on Monday, he spoke with some Gen Z children on a variety of issues. Responding to a question about caste-based reservations, Rahul Gandhi stated that he was not talking about reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but that he wanted every section of society to have access to the country’s resources according to their population, as advocated by the Congress party. Answering serious questions with a smile Congress released a 10-minute video on Monday, in which Rahul Gandhi appeared in a light mood while talking to children. The children, while laughing, asked him serious questions. The first question was about politics. Rahul Gandhi said he would simply share his own experiences. He said that responsibility and honesty are essential in politics. Everyone calls politics a dirty game…but in reality, it’s hard work. It’s real work. What did he say about reservations? A girl asked, “The BJP practices Hindutva politics, while the Congress talks about SC/ST reservations. What should we do?” To this question, Rahul Gandhi said, “Congress doesn’t talk about SC/ST reservations. Congress is saying that India’s wealth should be distributed honestly. Whether you’re a Dalit, an OBC, a Muslim, an EBC, or a tribal, you should all have equal opportunities. It shouldn’t be that two percent get all the wealth, while the rest are left screaming.” He further said, “If you say I fight for the rights of tribals, then you can say they vote for us (Congress). You wouldn’t call it a vote bank.” You can say this: whose rights are you working for? Rahul Gandhi said that while the term “vote bank” may sound appealing in the media, the real reason is that when you work for someone’s rights, that’s politics. He said this in response to a question about the Bihar elections. One question was, “In 2012, you went to Kashmir with several business tycoons and said you wanted to bring business to Kashmir. Do you have such a plan for Bihar?” Regarding this question about the Bihar elections, Rahul Gandhi said, “If I were to go to Bihar today with five businessmen, the state government would destroy the businesses. Nitish Kumar’s government has been in power in Bihar for 20 years. He has destroyed Bihar, and the education system in Bihar has also been destroyed. Education is almost nonexistent.” Rahul Gandhi alleged that young people in Bihar prepare for exams, but those who control the government leak the papers and give them to their own people. They appoint RSS chancellors to universities, who have destroyed the basic structure of education. There are professors who teach physics but don’t know physics. Those who teach biology don’t know biology. The healthcare system has also been destroyed. The healthcare system in Bihar has been privatized. Under the flyover at Delhi AIIMS, you’ll find many patients from Bihar who come to Delhi for treatment because they can’t be treated in Bihar. Curated by: Varun Shailesh About the Author Varun Shailesh is an Assistant News Editor at Navbharat Times Online. He has over 15 years of experience covering current affairs, politics, social issues, and features. He began his career with the news agency IANS in 2009. He worked on the central desk of Hindustan (Hindustan Times Group) for over five years. Courtesy: Hindi News
Bihar Elections: If 18% of Dalits support… you’ll win the crown. Find out who’s in the mood?
Bihar Politics: Campaigning for the second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections has concluded. All eyes are now on Dalit and Muslim voters, who are considered to hold the key to power. Bihar Assembly Elections: Campaigning for the second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections has concluded. All eyes are now on Dalit and Muslim voters. According to analysis, the key to the mandate lies in the hands of 18% Dalit voters, who have the power to swing the outcome in nearly 100 seats. This phase also holds clues to the future political future of the Muslim community, which has a significant presence in three dozen seats, including Seemanchal. The situation this time is slightly different from the previous election. VIP, which supported the NDA last time, is now with the Grand Alliance, while Chirag, who contested the elections on his own, is working to strengthen the NDA this time. Why is PK trying his best? Beyond the opposition Grand Alliance, the Jan Suraj Party, following the AIMIM, is also striving to establish itself as the leader of Muslims. In a close contest, the NDA narrowly reached the magic majority mark by winning 17 more seats than the Grand Alliance. A 1.6% Vote Shift In the last election, the NDA received 1.6% more votes than the Grand Alliance. This lead helped it win 66 seats compared to the Grand Alliance’s 49. The NDA secured a significant lead in Anga Pradesh, Tirhut, and Mithila, while the RJD secured a significant lead in the Magadh region. In Seemanchal, the close contest and the presence of the AIMIM gave the NDA a slight advantage. The Dalit community is the most important constituency in this phase. Of the Dalit community, which constitutes 18% of the total vote share, 13% are Mahadalits (of which 2.5% are Musahars) and 5% are Paswan (Dusadh). There are approximately 100 seats where the voter population of this community is between 30,000 and 40,000 per seat. Chirag came and Sahni left. JDU directly lost 22 seats due to Chirag contesting the elections on his own. The BJP and political pundits believe that the alliance between Chirag and Jitan Ram Manjhi will consolidate 7.5% of the Paswan and Musahar community votes in favor of the NDA. Muslims are hoping for new leadership. For decades, RJD’s powerful leaders were the face of Muslim politics in Seemanchal. Now, there is a clear anxiety among Muslims about new leadership. The AIMIM, which won five Muslim-dominated seats in Seemanchal in the last election, has linked the Mahagathbandhan’s failure to field a deputy CM candidate to an insult to the community. Furthermore, the newly formed Jan Suraj Party, which is contesting this election, is also striving to establish itself as a leader of Muslims. The AIMIM has fielded Muslim candidates in all Muslim-dominated seats. The Jan Suraj Party has also fielded candidates from the same community in Muslim-majority seats. By Abhishek Singh Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Why would Gen-Z listen to him?’: Prashant Kishor questions Rahul’s influence; plays down his impact
NEW DELHI: Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor on Sunday dismissed the “notion” that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi holds any meaningful sway over Gen Z voters in Bihar. He further criticised Gandhi’s limited engagement and understanding of the state. In an exclusive interview with news agency ANI, Kishor said, “How much knowledge does Rahul Gandhi have here? Rahul Gandhi comes here, roams around, does a couple of show bites and then he is gone.” He questioned the idea that Bihar’s youth would rally behind Gandhi’s calls on issues like “vote theft” or protecting democracy. “When the people of Bihar are not listening to him (Rahul Gandhi), then why would Gen Z listen to him? Gen Z is not a homogeneous group in Bihar who acts on someone’s call or on the basis of their assessment,” he said. — ANI (@ANI) Referring to recent protests in Nepal that led to the fall of the former PM KP Sharma Oli’s government, Kishor said some people were “getting excited” after the Gen Z movement there but stressed that Bihar’s political landscape is different. “Bihar is a very political place. It is not like Bangalore. People won’t have clothes, food, jobs, but there is a lot of political optimism among the people here. And the result of this is that people are leaving their work and doing politics day and night. But I don’t think there is going to be a revolution by someone’s call here,” he said. Kishor underlined that youth play an important role in Bihar’s politics, primarily because of unemployment and migration. “The youth between 20 and 30 years, who are facing a bit of unemployment. Not a bit, I mean he is facing a lot of difficulties due to unemployment. They are forced to go out, enduring the tough life there. That is definitely a big factor in Bihar. You can call him Gen Z, you can call him a youth, you can call him a millennial. This is the terminology,” he said. Commenting on the Congress party’s role in the upcoming elections, Jan Suraaj founder said it remains marginal. “I had also said at that time that Congress is a follower of RJD in Bihar. They are a big party of the country. They are the leaders of the opposition in the country. They belong to the Gandhi family. So it is natural that the media will cover them,” he said. “But from the point of view of Bihar, there is no presence of Congress. Congress is not a factor. There is no discussion of Congress. What is Congress doing? Congress has little effect. Politically, you can see it in Seemanchal. In Seemanchal, I think that even today, the Muslims are more tilted towards Congress than RJD,” he added. Hours before the first phase of polling, Gandhi had appealed to young voters, particularly Gen Z to come forward and “save democracy through truth and non-violence.” In a video message posted on X, Congress leader addressed “Gen Z brothers and sisters” from Bihar, urging them to turn out in large numbers and vote responsibly. “My young friends from Bihar, my Gen-Z brothers and sisters — tomorrow is not just a day for voting, but a day to decide the direction of Bihar’s future,” he said. — RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi) Referring to his repeated “vote theft” allegations, Gandhi added, “You’ve seen how in Haryana, a nefarious game of vote theft was played. In Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh — everywhere, these people have tried to suppress the people’s voice. Now their eyes are on Bihar, on your votes, on your future.” He urged voters to “stay vigilant against every conspiracy” and to “walk the path of truth and non-violence” while supporting Mahagathbandhan candidates in their constituencies. The first phase of the Bihar assembly elections concluded peacefully on Thursday with a record voter turnout, while the remaining 122 constituencies will vote in the second phase on November 11. Counting will take place on November 14. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Modi, Shah will be caught for being ‘involved’ in ‘vote chori’: Rahul
Patna: Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday alleged that the people in the country were being taken for a ride since the govt was not being formed in a fair manner, but through ‘vote chori’. He said PM Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah would eventually be caught for being “involved” in the “vote chori”. He said if voters managed to prevent vote theft at the polling booths, the opposition alliance would form the next govt in Bihar. Addressing election rallies in Kishanganj and Purnia on the last day of the poll campaign for the second and last phase of polling, Rahul alleged Modi and Shah never won elections in a fair manner, rather by “fraudulent means”, adding they would eventually be caught. “Modi and Shah chunao nahin jitate hain, vote chori karke chunao jitate hain (Modi and Shah don’t win elections, they emerge victorious by stealing votes),” Rahul said, accusing the chief election commissioner (CEC) of being a part of the conspiracy. “I have proof of vote theft and they will be caught in the end,” he said. He alleged the BJP won elections by fraudulent means in several states such as Maharashtra and Haryana, and it is now planning to “steal votes” in Bihar too. Asking the voters to remain alert at the polling booths, he said the formation of the INDIA bloc govt in Bihar is certain if they prevent vote theft. “I can say with certainty that the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ (INDIA bloc) is going to form the next govt. There is a cent per cent chance. But, you must prevent the BJP from vote theft. Be on the guard at the polling stations on the day when votes will be cast (Nov 11),” Rahul said, adding it is now the duty of every youngster, worker, and farmer to thwart vote theft. He said barely a few days back, he exposed “vote chori” in Haryana but both the BJP leaders and the EC have not replied so far. “Haryana has 2 crore voters, but 25 lakh fake electorate cast their votes in the elections… several BJP leaders from UP also voted in Haryana,” Rahul alleged, describing “vote chori” as the biggest theft in the country. He said the BJP fears people’s voices and hence they are either involved in vote theft or trying to cause bitterness in the society or talking about free data so that the youths remain engrossed on social media. “Social media is the biggest addiction in the 21st century and the NDA people want the young generation to be engaged in it,” he alleged, adding youths need employment. Rahul said the BJP and RSS have been pursuing a “divisive agenda”, with the objective of “deflecting attention from vote theft”, adding “Modi and Shah are scared of the people’s voice. They have betrayed the soul of India. They are bound to be caught.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
SIR an attempt to institutionalise ‘vote chori’: Rahul
Bhopal: Loading his ‘vote chori’ (vote theft) jibe as fresh ammunition to gun for the BJP-led NDA, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said the ruling party at the Centre was working in collusion with the Election Commission (EC) to destroy the country’s democratic framework while also inflicting wounds on the soul of the ‘Constitution.’ Amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) the Congress leader alleged that the enumeration exercise was a cover for ‘institutionalising vote chori’. “This is an attack on our democracy and the Constitution as conceived by Dr Ambedkar. PM Modi, Amit Shah and CEC Gyanesh Kumar are working in collusion to damage Bharat Mata,” Rahul alleged. In his parting address at Pachmarhi where he had arrived on Saturday to attend a training camp organised for District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents there, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha said, “The main issue facing the country today is vote chori. As you must have seen during my presentation on Haryana (assembly polls), there were 25 lakh fake voters, which means that one in every eight voters was fake. After going through the data on Haryana (polls), I am sure ‘vote chori’ happened in MP, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh as well.” Asked if he had evidence of vote theft in MP as well, Rahul responded, “Yes, we have a lot of information from different places. We shall present all information and evidence before the country in due course of time. This is just the beginning.” he said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
BJP bets big on Dalits, Mahadalits as Bihar gears up for Phase 2 polls
For the second phase, the BJP has put its focus on consolidating Dalit and Mahadalit votes, which account for 18% of Bihar’s electorate. This bloc wields considerable influence on more than 100 assembly seats As Bihar gears up for the second phase of assembly elections, the BJP has put its focus on consolidating Dalit and Mahadalit votes, which together account for around 18% of the state’s electorate. This bloc wields considerable influence on more than 100 assembly seats, and its voting pattern holds the key as to which side will form the next government. Leading up to November 11, the BJP has centred its campaign on constituencies bordering Uttar Pradesh — particularly in the districts of West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Bhojpur, Buxar, and Kaimur. These districts are adjacent to UP’s Deoria, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Ballia, and Sonbhadra. UNITING MAHADALIT AND PASWAN VOTERS The BJP estimates that Mahadalits constitute about 13% and Paswan voters around 5% of Bihar’s electorate. In the 2020 assembly election, the votes got split after Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) contested separately. This time, Chirag Paswan is in the NDA fold, and the BJP is determined to prevent that split. The BJP estimates that former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM will help secure nearly 2.5% of the Musahar votes, while Chirag Paswan will ensure that about 5% of Paswan votes end in the NDA’s kitty. EYE ON MAYAWATI FACTOR The BJP is also closely monitoring Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). While Mayawati initially announced candidates for all 243 seats, only about 190 are in the fray after some nominations were cancelled. At a recent rally in Kaimur’s Bhabua, Mayawati attempted to consolidate the Ravidas community, a significant Dalit sub-group. BJP believes Mayawati’s party may secure up to 5% of Ravidas votes. A split will only indirectly benefit the NDA. In the last Assembly polls, the BSP fielded candidates on 78 seats and secured 2.37% of the total votes. It won one seat, Chainpur, whose MLA later joined the JD(U). The party has a relatively strong base in western Bihar, especially in districts like Kaimur, Rohtas, Ara, and Buxar. NDA’S CANDIDATE MATH To appeal to the Dalit community, the NDA has fielded 39 candidates from the Scheduled Castes. The NDA has also attempted to maintain a careful caste balance within Dalit and Mahadalit sub-groups, ensuring representation for Ravidas, Musahar, Pasi, Bhuiya, Dhobi, Dom, Nat, Bhogta, and Kanjhar communities. For the second phase, the BJP’s mission is clear: prevent the fragmentation of Dalit and Mahadalit votes like the 2020 polls. It remains to be seen if the BJP’s intricate social engineering pays off. Himanshu Mishra Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Mahagathbandhan fighting Mahatma’s battle’: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra targets PM Modi; calls for ‘change’ in Bihar
NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said the opposition Mahagathbandhan alliance, of which her party is a part, is fighting the same battle in Bihar today that Mahatma Gandhi fought during India’s freedom struggle. Addressing an election rally in Kadwa, Katihar district, ahead of the second and final phase of polling on November 11, she likened the Congress and Mahagathbandhan’s campaign to a fight for citizens’ rights and democracy. “The battle that the Congress Party and the Mahagathbandhan are fighting today is the same battle that Mahatma Gandhi fought back then. Even today, we are fighting for your rights, for the truth, against an empire — and that is the empire of Narendra Modi. Today, he is running this country in the same way, by suppressing people,” the Wayanad MP remarked. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also accused the BJP of attempting to “weaken” the Constitution and “undermine” the democratic process. “The rights Mahatma Gandhi fought for are at risk. One of the most essential rights is the right to vote. The BJP has tried its best to weaken the Constitution — they have even started stealing votes,” she alleged. Her comments come amid ongoing opposition claims of electoral manipulation. Her brother and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has addressed three press conferences since August — including one on Wednesday, the eve of the first phase of voting — alleging that the Election Commission and the ruling BJP “colluded” to “steal” votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and state polls before and after. Both the BJP and the Election Commission have dismissed the accusations. The first phase of polling in Bihar covered 121 assembly constituencies, while the second phase will be held across the remaining 122 seats on November 11. Counting of votes for all 243 constituencies will take place on November 14. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul calls for district-level action, to target all households before 2028
Bhopal: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is on a two-day visit to Pachmarhi where he held an in-depth session with state party seniors and then held a marathon meeting with newly appointed district presidents. Rahul Gandhi arrived by a special plane from Delhi on Saturday afternoon and then headed for Pachmarhi in a chopper. Just before boarding the special flight to Bhopal, Rahul Gandhi took to X and posted a video of children eating their mid-day meal on fragments on newspapers and not plates. “I am going to Madhya Pradesh today,”@RahulGandhi wrote. “And ever since I saw this news that children are being served mid-day meals on newspapers, my heart has broken.” Reacting to this tweet, the state BJP said that it is an old video, and action was taken after the news surfaced. “The self-help group responsible for this was blacklisted,” the state BJP tweeted. Upon reaching Pachmarhi, Rahul Gandhi addressed senior state party leaders on decentralisation of the state unit – how to make the district offices strong and take district-based decisions there. Sources said that Rahul Gandhi instructed that strengthening of district units will enable the party to reach the villages. The target is to reach every household before the 2028 assembly elections. In a state where the party has been out of power since Dec 2003, except for the 15-month Kamal Nath govt, the Congress wants to return to power through the districts. The party so far has been unable to match the organisational strength of the ruling BJP. On June 3, Rahul Gandhi launched the Sangathan Srajan Abhiyan in the state with the goal of strengthening the organisation at the districts to panchayat levels. These newly elected district presidents were appointed under that campaign – some of whom are popular faces like Jaivardhan Singh, son of former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, former ministers Omkar Singh Markam, Priyavrat Singh and former NSUI state chief Vipin Wankhede. Those present in the hour-long senior leaders’ meeting included former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, former LoPs Ajay Singh and Dr Govind Singh, PCC chief Jitu Patwari, LoP Umang Singhar, Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha, former Union ministers Kantilal Bhuria, Arun Yadav and others. However, former chief minister Kamal Nath could not come to Pachmarhi because of medical reasons. After the meeting, leaders who spoke to reporters emphasised that Rahul Gandhi wants action and hard work in the field. Former LoP Ajay Singh refused to divulge the instructions given to the party top-brass, but said, “If anybody does not work, whether at the district or state level, the person will now be held accountable. Inactivity means that the person will be changed.” This was confirmed by former minister and party veteran Govind Singh, “Work review will be done. And inactivity means that you can be removed.” Later, he addressed the 72 organisational district presidents who were seated on the floor of a metal roofed hall with Rahul Gandhi walking in the centre and speaking to them. Family members including children of the district presidents were invited to Pachmarhi to have dinner with Rahul Gandhi. Rahul halted the night in Pachmarhi. He is scheduled to hold a small meeting with Congress leaders on Sunday morning before leaving around 10:30 am for the campaign in Bihar. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights