Interview/ Shakeel Ahmed Khan, Congress legislature party leader, Bihar
Q/ Congress has seen a massive decline in grassroots presence in Bihar. What efforts are being made to strengthen the organisation?
A/ Significant steps have been taken for cadre development. Segment-wise meetings have been conducted, including those for OBCs, civil society, youth and women. High-level meetings have been held by party in-charge Krishna Allavaru to address key issues like migration to other states from Bihar and unemployment. Another major challenge is brain drain and the problems in the education system. The senior leadership has held three meetings in Delhi to examine these issues.
Q/ How does the Congress plan to leverage the caste census data?
A/ Six key segments of society have been identified―OBCs, EBCs, dalits, women, upper castes and minorities. The party is actively working on integrating these segments into both the party structure and the power structure, and serious discussions are under way. There will be no dominance of a single segment, nor will any group attempt to overshadow others.This is a positive step for the party. While it is a challenging task, it is essential to have a balanced representation.
Q/ Will the Congress field young leaders or continue relying on old faces?
A/ It will be a mix of both old and young leaders. The key is to identify who is actively engaging at different levels. For example, cadres are engaging people through visits to Sadaqat Ashram (residence of the first president Rajendra Prasad). Strong local engagement needs to be made to strengthen the party at the grassroots.
Q/ What alternative governance model does Congress propose for Bihar?
A/ Bihar under Nitish Kumar lags far behind other states in governance and development. This is evident from various studies. From GST revenues in the current regime to central assistance between 2004 and 2014, Bihar had ample financial support, yet it failed to utilise it effectively. The root causes are nepotism, poor governance, and a bureaucratic approach that prioritises control over progress. Governance should be about serving the people.
Q/ If the RJD tries to marginalise the Congress, is there a Plan B?
A/ Our alliance consists of multiple parties, each bringing its own strengths to the table. While no one is being marginalised, negotiations will be done to determine the best course of action.
Q/ There is a common belief that the Congress leadership in the state takes instructions from the RJD.
A/ That’s just a myth created by the media. If we are not building up the cadre, the problem lies with us―no one is stopping us. Even while keeping its alliance with the JD(U), the BJP kept strengthening its organisation. Now, we are also building our capacity with clear focus on people’s issues.