Having fielded Rahul during campaign, Congress braces for make-or-break result from final phase
PATNA: The stakes for the Congress are perhaps higher than its rivals as well allies in the final phase of Bihar election.
Of the 41 seats allotted to the Congress, 12 are in the final round strewn across Seemanchal and Mithilanchal. The party could not field any candidate in the Kosi region despite demands from Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan from Supaul, a Lok Sabha constituency in the region this phase covers.
Ranjan, the wife of RJD rebel and Jan Adhikar Party MP Pappu Yadav, is one of the two Congress MPs from Bihar. The other is Maulana Asrarul Haque from Kishanganj, in the same region.
The significance of this region was evident after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi visited twice to address a rally each in Benipatti (Madhubani), Araria, Kishanganj, Amour (Purnia), Korha and Pranpur (Katihar).
The other seats contested by the Congress nominees were Harlakhi (Madhubani), Bahadurganj (Kishang anj), Pur nia and Kasba (Purnia), Kadwa and Manihari (Katihar).
“Our party pins a lot of hope on this region that gave us three of the four MLAs in 2010. We will increase our tally under the Grand Alliance this time,” Congress state unit president Ashok Choudhary said.
All the three sitting MLAs – Javed Ahmad (Kishanganj), Afaque Alam (Kasba) and Tausif Alam (Bahadurganj) – are seeking re-election.