CWC meets for first time in four years, in Bihar after 85 years

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meets in Patna today, with leaders calling it a “historic session to safeguard democracy.” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge opened the session with a sharp critique of the ruling NDA government and Bihar’s governance. He described the gathering as a “historic effort to safeguard democracy,” noting that this is the first CWC meeting in Bihar after 85 years, the last held in Ramgarh in 1940 during the freedom movement. He also invoked leaders Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, and Ambedkar, highlighting the party’s historical commitment to protecting democratic rights.

Kharge focused on systemic issues, warning that voter lists are being tampered with in a systematic way, describing it as a nationwide “vote chori.” He highlighted problems such as pension theft, medicine shortages, children’s scholarship fraud, and examination malpractices, calling them attacks on citizens’ rights. He also drew attention to Rahul Gandhi’s Vote Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, calling it a “jagrakta” for the people, helping them understand what is happening both in Bihar and nationwide.

Kharge criticised the Modi government, noting that promises like 2 crore jobs and 15 lakh deposits remain unfulfilled. He said India has “spread the red carpet” for Chinese imports, which have increased by 2%, contradicting the Atmanirbhar Bharat narrative. He warned that rising income inequality, unemployment, and social polarization are weakening India’s democracy. On GST, he pointed out flaws in the old eight-year system, praised Congress for advocating two slabs (4% and 8%), and emphasised that without jobs, citizens cannot spend and stimulate production. He also stressed that Modi’s policies have hurt rural populations and farmers, widening the gap between rich and poor.

The CWC session at the iconic Sadaqat Ashram symbolised both history and high stakes. Pawan Khera, party spokesperson, declared, “Historic decisions will be made in a historic state.”

From symbolism to reality: Bihar and Congress under scrutiny

But the big claims from the Congress stage also draw attention to the realities both in Bihar and within Congress itself. Bihar is currently led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a key NDA partner. His government has delivered visible improvements in roads, law and order, and welfare schemes for girls and students, with gains in literacy and school enrolment. These are tangible changes that Congress cannot ignore, even as it targets the NDA. Yet Bihar remains one of India’s poorest states, with poverty above 30%, a 36th rank in NITI Aayog’s SDG Index, and complaints of inefficiency and slow fund use. This mixed record means that while anti-incumbency is real, many voters also recognise progress achieved under NDA’s governance.

Congress, meanwhile, has made “vote theft” and democracy its rallying cry. Rahul Gandhi’s padyatra seeks to spotlight these issues, with leaders like Bhupesh Baghel calling his remarks an “atomic bomb.” Yet critics ask: if electoral reform and social justice are truly core to the party, why hasn’t Congress implemented them effectively in the states it already governs?

A legacy that raises questions

Congress leaders spoke passionately about protecting democracy, but the party’s own past casts a long shadow. The Emergency (1975–77) saw fundamental freedoms suspended, the press censored, and opponents jailed. Later national governments were tainted by scandals — from the 2G spectrum and Coalgate scams to the Commonwealth Games controversy. In Bihar too, Congress-linked corruption cases such as the Fodder Scam involving former CM Jagannath Mishra continue to haunt its image.

Kharge also targeted the BJP on reservations and social justice, promising jobs, education reforms, inflation control, youth opportunities, and good governance. Yet here again lies the contrast: while attacking the NDA, Congress has often compromised through alliances with the same forces, including Nitish Kumar himself.

The stakes ahead

The Patna CWC session combined powerful symbolism with high-stakes messaging. But with a legacy of both nation-building and misgovernance, and with Bihar still battling poverty and systemic failures, the key question lingers: can Congress convince voters it has the credibility and strength to deliver real change, or will this “historic session” remain another campaign spectacle?