Patna, Sep 23 (NationPress) The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is set to hold its meeting at Sadaqat Ashram in Patna on Wednesday, marking a politically significant moment as Bihar gears up for the upcoming Assembly elections.

This gathering will see attendance from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, along with all 170 committee members.

The Congress party views this meeting as pivotal, especially considering the rising challenges of unemployment and the deteriorating law-and-order situation in Bihar under the NDA government. In contrast, the BJP and its allies have criticized the Congress for seemingly only engaging with Bihar as elections approach.

Alka Lamba, President of the All India Mahila Congress, remarked to IANS, "While there was indeed a meeting in Patna prior to Independence, this is the first instance of the Congress Working Committee gathering here since then, which is of great significance."

She further stated, "Congress representatives from all over the nation are coming together to deliberate on issues in India, including Bihar. Problems such as unemployment and crime are pressing, and the economy seems to be on a downward spiral. Major movements and revolutions have once originated from Bihar, and we are here to make another effort."

Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who arrived in Patna on Tuesday, expressed optimism regarding the Mahagathbandhan's prospects.

At the airport, he shared, "Bihar is a commendable state with industrious people, but it is grappling with severe unemployment. Poor governance led to the formation of the Mahagathbandhan previously. The entire INDIA bloc is present to support Bihar, and we believe change is on the horizon. Unemployment remains our greatest hurdle."

Former Congress MP P.L. Punia noted that the meeting would address national issues that the government is reluctant to acknowledge.

"With elections approaching in Bihar, this meeting is crucial in that context. We will discuss the issues facing India, which the government is trying to ignore," Punia told reporters.

However, NDA leaders have dismissed the Congress initiative, suggesting the party will face the same fate in Bihar as in other states.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan commented, "I am pleased that the CWC has finally remembered Bihar. It is unclear when the last meeting occurred here. This reflects political pressure. They are feeling the heat. Moreover, Congress has yet to endorse Tejashwi Yadav as the CM candidate in Bihar, hence this CWC meeting."

BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain downplayed the Congress strategy, stating, "Congress also had a CWC meeting in Delhi and ended up with zero seats there. Regardless of how many meetings they conduct, nothing will change. They've lost in Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi, and will similarly lose in Bihar."

BJP MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal expressed confidence in the NDA's victory.

He stated to IANS, "The people of Bihar understand that despite the years since Independence, this meeting's impact will be negligible. These leaders did not hold such meetings when they were in power. Their current actions are driven by a desperation for power."

"These meetings won't influence the people of Bihar, who have already rejected them due to their history of mismanagement, scams, and corruption in governance. The citizens of Bihar trust PM Modi, and we are assured that the Nitish government will retain its power this time," he added.