Just days before Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled visit to Bihar, a major political jolt has hit the party with 17 prominent leaders from Katihar district deserting the Congress and joining the BJP.
The political shift comes with serious allegations against senior Congress leader and six-time MP Tariq Anwar, further deepening the rift within the party and raising questions over Congress’s strength in the state.
The dramatic defection was led by Vikas Singh, president of the Congress-affiliated labour organisation INTUC, who accused Tariq Anwar of fostering an “anti-upper caste mentality” in both his actions and rhetoric.
“This is just the beginning. Hundreds and thousands of workers are ready to join the BJP in the coming days,” declared Mr Singh while joining the BJP in the presence of Bihar’s PHED Minister Neeraj Kumar Singh Bablu at a function held in Patna.
According to Mr Singh, the decision of 17 influential upper-caste Congress leaders to switch sides stems from growing resentment against Mr Anwar’s alleged bias and attitude.
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