Violence Breaks Out at Bihar Congress Headquarters During Rahul Gandhi's Visit
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Synopsis
On April 7, factional disputes erupted at Bihar Congress headquarters during Rahul Gandhi's visit. Rival groups clashed inside Sadaqat Ashram while he engaged with party members, highlighting unresolved internal conflicts as Congress aims to strengthen its position ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections.
Key Takeaways
- Factional disputes within Bihar Congress exposed.
- Incident occurred during Rahul Gandhi's visit.
- Supporters of Akhilesh Prasad Singh and Amit Kumar Tunna involved.
- Internal divisions threaten Congress's revival efforts.
- Gandhi emphasizes need for social justice and representation.
Patna, April 7 (NationPress) Factional disputes within the Bihar Congress were once again highlighted on Monday when two opposing factions of party members clashed at the state Congress headquarters, Sadaqat Ashram, while the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was present on-site.
The altercation occurred during LoP Rahul Gandhi's one-day trip to Bihar, which included his participation in the ‘Palayan Roko, Naukri Do’ padayatra in Begusarai, followed by the ‘Samvidhan Sanrakshan Sammelan’ at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall in Patna, and a gathering with party officials at the Congress state office.
According to sources, the confrontation was between supporters of former Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh and former party MLA Amit Kumar Tunna.
Eyewitnesses reported that tensions rose when a supporter of Akhilesh Singh, identified as Ravi Ranjan from Pakdi Dayal Panchayat Samiti, allegedly acted inappropriately towards Tunna inside the party office.
In response, Tunna's supporters allegedly pursued and physically attacked Ravi Ranjan, creating disorder at the Congress office, even as LoP Rahul Gandhi was engaged in discussions inside.
Despite numerous attempts by senior leaders and security personnel to quell the disturbance, the clash revealed the significant internal rifts afflicting the state Congress unit.
The timing of the incident is particularly detrimental for Congress, which is striving to restore its standing in Bihar ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections.
LoP Rahul Gandhi's third visit to the state in just two months was perceived as a substantial effort to revitalize the party organization and invigorate its grassroots activists.
Thousands of party supporters enthusiastically participated in the padayatra in Begusarai, led by youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar, indicating a renewed initiative to connect with young voters and the unemployed youth.
Political analysts suggest that the infighting during such a prominent occasion could jeopardize LoP Rahul Gandhi's attempts to present unity and strength in Bihar.
“Public displays of discord during a national leader's visit are exceedingly unfortunate and self-destructive. They indicate that the party's internal challenges remain unresolved,” remarked a senior member of the Bihar Congress unit.
During his visit, LoP Rahul Gandhi emphasized the necessity of a caste-based census, social justice, and fair representation within the Congress organization.
