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Patna,(BiharTimes): The Congress party in Bihar is trying its level best to make the contest in coming assembly election triangular instead of straight fight between the NDA and RJD-LJP alliance.

Though the party has at present only 10 MLAs in the House of 243 its strategy is to expose the differences between the Nitish Kumar government’s tall claim with the help of advertisement and ground realities.

Congress leaders concede that the situation has made slight improvement so far development is concerned but they are quick to point out that all this was possible because of the manifold increase in the Centre’s grant to Bihar. Almost all the Union ministers of Congress, who visited Bihar recently, pointed out that the then Vajpayee government totally neglected Bihar––then ruled by Rabri Devi––so far central assistance was concerned. In contrast the UPA government has, in the last six years, made generous grants, yet the Nitish Kumar government squandered this golden opportunity.

The Congress leaders are repeatedly blaming the Nitish Kumar government for the loot of the state treasury and rampant corruption in centrally-sponsored schemes.

These leaders were in particularly critical of the state government’s move to take credit for the success of the centrally-sponsored schsmes, be it the construction of National Highways or rural roads or National Rural Health Mission.

Now with election just three months away both the Congress and RJD-LJP combine are hoping that India Shining type fate awaits Nitish Kumar government in Bihar.

The Congress party has repeatedly made it clear that it would go alone this time, but there is no dearth of political observers who still doubt its capability to make any big change. However, both the central and state leaders are hopeful of getting huge chunk of upper caste and sizeable Muslims votes.

The Congress is pining much hope after the joining of Jamshed Ashraf and Aquil Haider, but the rank and file still fear that the RJD-LJP combine would be the main beneficiary of the Muslim votes.

But unlike the other opposition parties the Congress has to virtually start from scratch. Though its organizational structure is intact in most urban centres in large part of rural areas the party hardly exists. However, of late the number of workers have increased considerably.

The other problems with the Congress is the absence of leaders like Nitish, Lalu or Ram Vilas Paswan. Besides, in fighting is plaguing the party.

Notwithstanding all these disadvantages the party is hoping to stage a surprise in the coming assembly election. But much depends on the magic of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

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