(Image source from: x.com/INCIndia)
Hours after the Mahagathbandhan faced a major loss in the Bihar Assembly elections on Friday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed gratitude to voters who supported the alliance but claimed that the competition was unfair from the beginning. In a message on X, Rahul Gandhi stated that the Opposition would step up its efforts to "defend the Constitution and democracy." "I want to sincerely thank the millions of voters in Bihar who put their trust in the Mahagathbandhan. The outcome in Bihar is very unexpected. We couldn’t win an election that was unfair from the start," he wrote. Describing the Bihar result as a setback that needs reflection, Gandhi mentioned that the Congress and the INDIA coalition would "thoroughly analyze" the results and boost their efforts moving forward. "This struggle is to safeguard the Constitution and democracy. The Congress Party and the INDIA alliance will closely examine this result and enhance their actions to protect democracy," he added.
The NDA, led by the BJP and JDU, is poised for a historic victory, while the Congress experienced one of its weakest showings in the state since 2010. Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera claimed that early trends indicated "Gyanesh Kumar succeeding against the people of Bihar," arguing that the battle was no longer between political parties but "a direct competition between Gyanesh Kumar and the citizens of India." Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in a message on X, stated that the party acknowledges the verdict in Bihar but will persist in its battle against forces "misusing constitutional institutions to undermine democracy." He expressed gratitude to voters who supported the Mahagathbandhan and encouraged party members not to lose hope, asserting that the fight to "protect the Constitution and democracy" would carry on with full determination. Other Congress leaders also shared their reactions, labeling the result as "surprising," "unacceptable," and indicative of serious organizational issues.
Shashi Tharoor, speaking from Thiruvananthapuram, described the results as "very disappointing" and called for a comprehensive review. "We need to have serious reflection — not just thinking, but examining what went wrong, including any tactical, messaging, or organizational errors," he noted. Tharoor mentioned he had not been asked to campaign in Bihar and thus relied on conversations with colleagues. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took a stronger stance, alleging widespread manipulation. "The election outcomes in Bihar undoubtedly show massive vote theft — orchestrated by the PM, the HM, and the Election Commission," he wrote on X. He added that the party would escalate its efforts to "preserve democracy." Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge referred to the results as "extremely surprising" and "unacceptable." He pointed out that the results did not align with what had been anticipated on the ground, saying, "This isn’t the people's mandate." He called for a thorough investigation into how such a verdict came about.
A number of Congress leaders also expressed internal criticism, indicating greater organizational concern following the loss.
