Dissatisfied over the prevailing situation in the Bihar Congress, former MLAs, former district presidents, former state office-bearers, and hundreds of party leaders and workers staged a peaceful sit-in protest on Tuesday outside the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters, Indira Bhawan, in New Delhi. The protesters demanded organisational reforms in the Bihar Congress, the return of old and dedicated party workers, and a change in the state leadership.

The protest was led by senior Congress leader and AICC member Anand Madhav, along with several former MLAs, former district presidents and senior Congress leaders. Following the protest, a delegation of the AICC led by Manish Chhatrat met the protesters, who handed over a memorandum addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi.

Anand Madhav said that despite repeated efforts and dialogue in Bihar, the concerns of dedicated party workers were not being heard, leaving them with no option but to come to Delhi. He said they were not protesting against the Congress party, but had come to bring their concerns over the party’s current functioning and organisational condition in Bihar to the attention of the central leadership.

He alleged that the Bihar Congress organisation was continuously weakening and that old and dedicated Congress workers were not being given due respect. He also questioned the situation at Sadakat Ashram, saying that a place regarded by Congress workers as their “temple” was increasingly being influenced by people associated with other parties and disruptive elements rather than committed party workers.

Anand Madhav said, “Our protest is not against the Congress party, but against those currently running the party in Bihar. We are true soldiers of the Congress and have brought our voice to Delhi to save the party.”

Six Key Demands of the Protesters

The protesters placed six major demands before the Congress leadership. These included an immediate appointment with Rahul Gandhi, withdrawal of notices and expulsion proceedings initiated against dedicated Congress workers, and restoration of their previous roles and responsibilities within the organisation.

They also demanded the immediate removal of Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru and Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president Rajesh Kumar (Ram). According to the protesters, this would help restore confidence within the organisation and pave the way for a fresh restructuring.

The protesters further demanded an end to the process of awarding organisational positions to people who have joined the Congress from other parties, as well as to alleged suspicious or fake members in the name of “Sangathan Srijan”. They called for an impartial investigation into party membership and organisational appointments.

The memorandum also demanded that social justice, regional balance, seniority, loyalty and grassroots contribution be given priority in organisational and political appointments. In addition, the protesters called for restoration of the dignity, discipline and democratic dialogue of the Congress at Sadakat Ashram.

Anand Madhav said that, inspired by Rahul Gandhi’s message of “Do not be afraid”, they were gathering the courage to bring the actual situation within the party to the attention of the leadership. He warned that if the central leadership did not intervene in the Bihar Congress in time, the situation could become more serious.

He said their demands were not directed against any particular individual, but were aimed at strengthening the Bihar Congress, restoring democracy within the organisation and ensuring that dedicated Congress workers who have worked for the party for years regain their respect.

Former MLAs Anil Singh, Chhatrapati Yadav and Poonam Devi; former Bihar Pradesh Congress vice-president Jamal Ahmad Bhallu; former Youth Congress president and Pradesh Congress vice-president Raj Kumar Rajan; former Youth Congress president Nagendra Paswan Vikal; and former Pradesh Congress secretary Wasi Akhtar were among those who participated in the protest, along with several former district presidents and senior Congress leaders. Hundreds of Congress workers from various districts of Bihar also took part in the demonstration.