As Rahul Gandhi is embarking on a plan to repeat the performance of Uttar Pradesh in Bihar the truth is that the party is passing through its worst phase with the percentage of votes plummeting further down. Though the Congressmen are projecting that they got over 10 per cent votes in 2009 against about five per cent in 2004 parliamentary election the fact is that the increase in percentage could happen only because this time they contest 39 seats against six last times.
A number of state party leaders are camping in New Delhi to seek an appointment with Congress president Sonia Gandhi to complain against the functioning of BPCC chief Anil Sharma and demand his removal. Sharma, however, is learnt to have the backing of Sonia Gandhi’s close aide V George. Media reports from New Delhi said that those seeking a change of leadership include Congress Legislature Party leader Ashok Ram, MLA Avadhesh Singh, and MLC Mahachandra Prasad.
Some party leaders even accuse Sharma of being soft towards the present NDA government in the state for obvious political reasons. Thus the Congress’ plan to revive the party in the state remains on paper. Six months after the sacking of Bihar Youth Congress chief Chandan Yadav––and that too within five days after his appointment––Rahul Gandhi has not been able to find a suitable replacement. While the party leadership is preparing a blueprint of its programmes and strategy in the Assembly election in UP three years on, Bihar does not appear to be on its agenda as yet though election is due in October 2010.
Congress’ performance can be measured from one figure. While in the 2004 Lok Sabha election, the party had secured over 13 lakh votes in the four constituencies that it had won in alliance with the RJD. In 2009 the party, which fought alone, could muster only 4.32 lakh votes in these four constituencies. In majority of the 39 seats which it contested the party lost its deposit.

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