Bihar Poll Rout: Congress Flags Voter Deletions, Cash Incentives

A comprehensive review of the recent Bihar election results has been conducted by the Congress party, identifying multiple reasons for its poor showing. During a session with senior leadership, including KC Venugopal, candidates articulated their grievances. They cited the state government’s ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana’ (MMRY), which offered a Rs 10,000 incentive to women, as a significant factor influencing voters. Furthermore, concerns about electoral irregularities, including targeted voter deletions through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and questionable voter additions, were raised. The delay in the Mahagathbandhan’s seat-sharing arrangements was also identified as a critical issue that hampered the party’s campaign. Reports of internal confrontations among candidates also surfaced during the intense discussions. The party leadership acknowledged these points, with Venugopal stating that the election results indicated organized malpractices and violations of the Model Code of Conduct, suggesting a manipulated mandate.