Did Shakeel Ahmad Critique the Opposition's Bihar Election Loss?
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Synopsis
Shakeel Ahmad, a former Congress leader, critiques the Opposition's performance in the Bihar elections, questioning the claims of voter deletions and the rationale behind seat distributions. His comments reveal deeper issues within the Opposition's strategies and highlight the need for reform as they reflect on their electoral defeat.
Key Takeaways
- Shakeel Ahmad questions the claims of voter deletions in Bihar elections.
- He describes the Opposition's performance as shocking and unexpected.
- Calls for clearer criteria in candidate selection for future elections.
- Highlights potential missteps in the Opposition's seat-sharing strategy.
- Stresses the importance of representing the Muslim community.
New Delhi, Nov 16 (NationPress) Former Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad, who recently left the party, has expressed strong doubts regarding the Opposition's performance in the latest Bihar Assembly elections. He specifically highlighted issues such as the distribution of seats to ineligible candidates and questioned the validity of claims regarding the deletion of 6.5 million voters, stating that these assertions lack concrete evidence from the ground.
In an interview with IANS on November 16, Ahmad articulated that the allegations of mass voter deletion are not substantiated by any on-ground protests or evidence.
"If such a significant deletion had truly occurred, we would have expected at least a fraction of the affected voters to voice their concerns, perhaps 65 or even 5,000 individuals should have protested. However, no such incidents were reported in Bihar," he noted, emphasizing that no major political entities, including the Left, RJD, or Congress, initiated any public demonstrations regarding the matter.
He further commented, "If innocent voters had indeed been disenfranchised, political parties would have taken to the streets in protest. But we saw no evidence of that happening."
Reflecting on the Bihar election results, Ahmad characterized the performance of the Opposition alliance as "unexpected and shocking".
Clarifying his current stance, Ahmad stated, "As a private citizen, I can assert that the results shocked us as well. The poor performance of our alliance was unanticipated."
He noted that Bihar has maintained a consistent "section-wise" voting pattern since 1995, explaining, "Historically, even when we were not aligned with Lalu Yadav, 85 percent of certain segments voted for him. Over time, these segments have fragmented, leaving only two aligned with our coalition."
Ahmad attributed the Opposition's gains in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections largely to the Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas under Chirag Paswan, which fielded candidates against the Janata Dal-United led by Nitish Kumar, ultimately weakening the NDA.
He echoed the sentiments of senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar regarding the flawed seat-sharing strategy within the Opposition alliance, questioning why candidates who suffered significant losses in 2020 were granted tickets again.
"There should be clear criteria. Those who lost by over 100 votes in the 2020 elections were not given tickets, yet individuals who lost by 63,000 votes were allowed to run again. What rationale supports this?" he inquired.
Regarding reports that Vikassheel Insaan Party Chief Mukesh Sahani was offered the Deputy CM position despite representing only 2-2.5 percent of the population, while the Muslim community—making up 18 percent of Bihar's population—was overlooked, Ahmad remarked that this decision created a negative perception.
He expressed concern that the message conveyed was that Muslim votes were taken for granted.
Moreover, he voiced discomfort over tickets being awarded to individuals connected with the BJP-RSS, suggesting that had the Opposition alliance triumphed, such candidates might have returned to the BJP.
Ahmad's critique has sparked intensified scrutiny within the Opposition Bloc as parties reflect on the reasons behind their electoral defeat.
Point of View
It's crucial to acknowledge the significance of Shakeel Ahmad's observations regarding the Opposition's recent electoral challenges. His insights shed light on the underlying issues that may have contributed to their poor performance and highlight the necessity for strategic reevaluation moving forward. The examination of these dynamics is essential for understanding the evolving political landscape in Bihar.
NationPress
16/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Shakeel Ahmad say about the voter deletion claims?
Shakeel Ahmad stated that the claims of 6.5 million voters being deleted lack ground-level evidence, suggesting that if such a significant deletion had occurred, there would have been public protests.
How did Ahmad view the Opposition's performance in Bihar?
He described the performance of the Opposition alliance as 'unexpected and shocking', indicating that it was far below expectations.
What concerns did Ahmad raise about candidate selection?
Ahmad questioned the logic behind offering tickets to candidates who had lost by large margins in previous elections, advocating for clearer criteria in candidate selection.
Why did Ahmad criticize the seat-sharing strategy?
He expressed that the seat-sharing distribution within the Opposition was flawed, as it included candidates who had previously lost significantly.
What was Ahmad's stance on the representation of Muslims?
He pointed out that despite Muslims constituting 18% of Bihar's population, their representation was overlooked in favor of other candidates.
