Subordinate alliance

Prolonged dependence on RJD has rendered Congress electorally fragile and organisationally weak

- BADAR BASHIR

It was a pleasant spring in Bihar—a brief respite before the scorching summer—when the Bihar Congress leaders, including party in-charge Mohan Prakash and state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh, awaited Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad’s approval to finalise the seat-sharing formula for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While the preliminary negotiations had been completed, it was Lalu, as always, who had the final say.

Since the late 1990s, when Lalu was among the first non-Congress leaders to staunchly support Sonia Gandhi when she came under criticism from the BJP and others over the foreign origin issue, the Congress has always granted his party considerable leeway.

The relationship between the RJD and the Congress has been characterised by mutual respect and understanding, with Lalu responding positively to the Congress’s ambitions whenever that did not threaten his political standing. To put things in perspective, when a section of leaders attempted to dissuade Sonia from backing a particular candidate for a Lok Sabha seat in Bihar last year, citing Lalu’s alleged opposition, she was not worried. Insiders say Sonia was confident in her bond with Lalu. “Don’t worry, I will speak to Lalu ji about it. He will understand. The leader must get the ticket,” she reassured them.

Although the Congress considers Lalu’s party its closest ally in the Hindi heartland, a pressing question remains: is the grand old party’s political relevance threatened by its secondary status in the alliance?

The coming summer months will give the answer to that as the Congress and the RJD prepare to face off against Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), which enjoys a comfortable relationship with the BJP, in the assembly elections due in November. It could mark a turning point for Lalu and the Congress, unless they play their cards wisely. For now, the focus is on revitalising party cadres while incorporating lessons learnt from the Delhi polls.