Rahul Asserts Mahagathbandhan Commitment to Bihar’s Social Justice, Downplays Necessity of Nitish Kumar

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi asserted on Tuesday that the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ would persist in its fight for social justice in Bihar, emphasizing that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was not indispensable to their cause. Speaking at a rally in Purnea district during his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,’ Gandhi took a dig at Kumar for his frequent political shifts, stating, “He (Kumar) cannot exert pressure… he immediately takes a U-turn.”

Kumar, who recently took oath as the chief minister of Bihar for a record ninth time, left the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ and allied with the BJP to form a new government. Gandhi remarked, “The ‘Mahagathbandhan’ will fight for social justice in Bihar; we don’t require Nitish Kumar for that purpose, we don’t require him at all.”

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The Congress is part of the ‘Mahagathbandhan,’ which also includes the RJD and Left parties. Gandhi highlighted the underrepresentation of Dalits and backward classes in various sectors, advocating for a caste-based census to determine their accurate population.

Addressing the situation in Manipur, Gandhi claimed the state is facing an “atmosphere of civil war,” and he criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the strife-torn region. AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, scheduled to speak at the rally, addressed the gathering virtually after being unable to land at the Purnea airport due to low visibility.

Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and CPI(ML)L general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya also spoke at the event. The Congress, along with TMC, AAP, and CPI(ML)L, is part of the 28-party opposition bloc INDIA.