The MTA Speaks: Rahul Gandhi visits create buzz in Bihar Politics; Who gains, who loses?

Rahul Gandhi intensifies Bihar outreach to revive Congress political ground there. Watch an exclusive analysis on this issue in “The MTA Speaks” by the veteran journalist Manoj Tibrewal Aakash

New Delhi: As the Assembly Elections in Bihar are getting closer, the political excitement is heating up. Meanwhile, after 'Operation Sindoor', Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived on a tour of Bihar. As soon as Rahul Gandhi reached there, the political temperature of the state touched the seventh sky.

Rahul Gandhi tried his best to breathe life into the Congress Party which has been sleeping for years. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi entered the battlefield of Bihar with his entire army of leaders, where the Dalit community was at the center of his political agenda. Rahul Gandhi has made an amazing strategy in Bihar, from talking to Dalit students to watching movies, through which every effort was made to gain a foothold among the voters.

The country's veteran journalist Manoj Tibrewal Aakash, while analyzing the issue in his exclusive show "The MTA Speaks," said that the latest visit of Rahul Gandhi to Bihar was his fourth one in the last five months. This shows that the Congress is putting all its strength into regaining its lost ground in the state.

Rahul In Darbhanga, Patna

Rahul Gandhi visited Darbhanga and Patna. In Darbhanga, he held 'Shiksha Nyay Samvad' with Dalit students in Ambedkar hostel, while in Patna, he tried to give a social message by watching the film 'Phule.'

Through the film 'Phule' based on the lives of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule, Rahul Gandhi tried to give the message that the Congress is serious about the issues of social justice.

In Darbhanga, the district administration tried to stop Rahul Gandhi from holding the programme by imposing prohibitory orders, but he crossed the police barriers and reached the hostel by marching on foot.

Rahul Gandhi also had a confrontation with the police, the video of which has gone viral on social media. Rahul Gandhi clearly said, "If you want to stop me, then stop me physically; I will not go without meeting the students."

FIRs Against Rahul Gandhi

After this incident, two FIRs were registered against Rahul Gandhi and many Congress leaders at Laheriyasarai police station—one against in the name of 20 people and the other against 100 unknown workers.

Rahul Gandhi termed these FIRs as "medals" and said that he has in all received 3032 such "medals" so far.

Rahul Gandhi raised three major issues:

1. During his visit Rahul Gandhi has raised three major issues including
2. Demand for a caste census, which he claimed was started by him, and now the central government has been forced to work on it.
3. Demand for reservations for OBC, EBC, SC, and ST categories in the private sector.

Why Dalit Vote Matters?

There was a time in Bihar when Dalits, Brahmins and minorities used to be the major vote banks of Congress, but after 1995, this base of Congress gradually slipped. Mandal politics, rise of regional parties and new definitions of social justice marginalized Congress in the politics of the state. After which gradually the Dalit community got disillusioned with Congress.

Assembly elections are to be held in Bihar in October this year. The Dalit population in Bihar is about 19%, which can play a decisive role in the politics of the state.

In the year 2005, Nitish Kumar's government succeeded in turning this vote bank in its favor by dividing the Dalits into the 'Mahadalit' category. During this time, except the Paswan caste, 21 other castes were included in the Mahadalit category, to which Paswans were also added later. The effect of this social manipulation was that a large section of Dalits leaned towards JDU and NDA.

Dalit votes are very important in Bihar politics. Out of 243 assembly seats in the state, 38 are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 2 for Scheduled Tribes. Apart from this, there are about 20-25 seats where Dalit voters play a decisive role.

'Bihar Jodo Yatra'

This time Congress ran the 'Bihar Jodo Yatra' under the leadership of Kanhaiya Kumar and after that tried to give a new message by making Rajesh Ram, who comes from the Dalit community, the state president. Rahul Gandhi is clearly trying to convey by holding a copy of the Constitution and a picture of Ambedkar in his hand that Congress is ready to fight the biggest battle for the rights of Dalits.

Film 'Phule'

Rahul watched the film Phule with representatives of social organizations in the Inox hall of City Center Mall in Patna. This film is based on the life of the great social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule alias Jyotiba Phule and his wife and social reformer Savitribai Phule.

However, the road is not easy for Rahul in Bihar, which is divided into caste lines. It remains to be seen how successful his efforts will be in the current coalition era.