1940 To 2025: All That Has Changed Between 2 Congress Meetings In Bihar

Congress chief Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the who's who of Congress are in Patna

New Delhi:

From Ramgarh in 1940 to Patna in 2025: The Congress Working Committee reunites in Bihar after an 85-year interval. The historical 1940 meeting, chaired by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, established Congress's commitment to creating a Constituent Assembly for an independent India's constitution. Today's gathering marks a significant shift, as Congress now operates as the opposition rather than the freedom movement's vanguard.

Today, the Congress elite—including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, and all Congress chief ministers—convened at Patna's Sadaqat Ashram. The session began after Mr. Kharge ceremoniously raised the party flag at the Bihar Congress headquarters. Sources indicate the leadership will likely pass crucial resolutions with the upcoming Bihar elections in mind.

Embracing Historical Significance

The selection of Sadaqat Ashram as the meeting venue appears deliberately symbolic, highlighting Congress's historical role in India's independence struggle. Now housing the state Congress office and a museum, this location once hosted luminaries such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. By choosing this historically rich venue, Congress connects to its legacy while its leaders speak of a "second freedom struggle."

Earlier today, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh emphasized the historical importance of Bihar in the party's decision-making. "At the Ramgarh session in mid-March 1940, the CWC passed its landmark resolution that formally committed the Indian National Congress to establishing a Constituent Assembly to frame and adopt a Constitution for a free and independent India. The rest is history—including the bitter opposition from the organization now celebrating its centenary to the Constitution adopted on November 26, 1949, and implemented on January 26, 1950," he stated on X, taking aim at the RSS.

The Hyderabad Strategy

Central to this CWC meeting's agenda are the Congress campaign against alleged electoral fraud and strategic planning for the upcoming Bihar elections. Setting the meeting's tone, Congress president Kharge accused the BJP of exploiting communal divisions for political advantage. Sources reveal the meeting aims to send a powerful message as Congress intensifies its criticism of the Election Commission regarding alleged polling irregularities—claims dismissed by both the Commission and BJP.

The CWC gathering also serves to demonstrate Congress's organizational strength before the election. The party has struggled in Bihar for some time, relying heavily on its ally, the RJD. By hosting this high-profile meeting in Bihar, Congress intends to project strength to opponents. This approach builds upon Rahul Gandhi's 1,300-km Voter Adhikar Yatra campaign.

Congress is applying what it calls the "Hyderabad formula," hoping for similar success in Bihar. The party conducted a leadership meeting in Hyderabad on September 16, 2023, shortly before Telangana's elections. Party leadership believes this CWC meeting reinvigorated their cadre, contributing to their decisive victory in that southern state.

Strategic Alliance Messaging

Beyond addressing the BJP and JDU, Congress is also communicating strategically with its Bihar ally, Tejashwi Yadav's RJD. As seat-sharing negotiations continue within the Grand Alliance, Congress is advocating forcefully for favorable terms. During the 2020 Assembly elections, Congress contested 70 seats but secured only 19. Consequently, despite becoming the single largest party, the RJD failed to form a government.

Congress is negotiating assertively this time, even as the RJD references its past performance. Another point of contention: Congress has not endorsed Tejashwi Yadav as the Grand Alliance's Chief Ministerial candidate. This appears to be a negotiating tactic for seat-sharing discussions, much to the RJD's displeasure.

Against this backdrop, the CWC meeting serves as Congress's reminder to its ally that it remains India's principal opposition force and won't accept a minimal seat allocation.