The Congress Working Committee will hold its first ever meeting in Bihar on Wednesday as the state Assembly elections draw closer. Top leaders including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi will join the extended session from 10 am in Patna.
Who will attend the meeting?
The CWC meeting will be held at Sadaqat Ashram in Patna with all top leaders in attendance. Reports indicate that both Kharge and Gandhi will be there alongside Congress Chief Ministers and other senior leaders. The meeting will also see participation from various permanent and special invitees, Pradesh Congress Committee presidents and Congress Legislature Party leaders.
“The CWC is being held at a very historic place (Sadaqat Ashram). It has its own significance. The kind of atmosphere the current government in Bihar has created, the poor have become poorer. Migration from Bihar is a very big issue. Bihar’s problems and unemployment are part of the debate. Sadaqat Ashram has its own historic status, and a meeting is being held here after independence…” Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan told ANI.
What will be discussed?
Sources told PTI that the focus of the deliberations is likely to be on Bihar, the party’s campaign strategy, future polls and ramping up its against the BJP over ‘vote chori’. They said a strong message will be sent out by the CWC on the vote theft issue and against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of the Bihar electoral rolls.
Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar also confirmed that several state, national and international-level issues — including ‘vote theft’ and imposition of tariffs by the Donald Trump administration were likely to be discussed.
“As we gear up for the historic occasion, Bihar and its rich history and legacy will be at the centre stage tomorrow…Today, as Bihar again faces a crossroads between the politics of hope, social justice and development on one side, and hatred, violence, and histrionic unemployment and destruction of the Constitution on the other – our CWC meeting is being held here to send a message to the people of Bihar about our commitment to Bihar’s welfare,” Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal wrote on X.
Bihar election and CM face
The Congress is set to contest the Bihar elections as part of the INDIA bloc — but the coalition is yet to announce a Chief Ministerial candidate. All India Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba also told reporters that the party was working to finalise a seat sharing arrangement and select suitable candidates. She insisted that decisions about the CM face and various ministers would be taken at a later date.
(With inputs from agencies)