The party gives tickets to Mohammad Kamrul Huda and Mohammad Irfan Alam, signalling efforts to regain minority confidence
NEW DELHI/PATNA – The Congress party on Saturday announced its second list of candidates for the upcoming Bihar elections, naming five candidates for the second phase — two of whom are Muslim. The move is seen as a political message aimed at consolidating minority support amid ongoing internal disputes and speculation over the party’s standing within the Mahagathbandhan alliance.
The party has nominated Mohammad Kamrul Huda from Kishanganj and Mohammad Irfan Alam from Kasba. The other three seats announced are Narkatiaganj (S K Pandey), Purnea (Jitendra Yadav), and Gaya Town (Mohan Srivastava).
The announcement took many within the party by surprise, especially in constituencies where sitting MLAs were replaced. In Kasba, the party dropped two-time MLA Mohammad Afaque Alam, replacing him with Irfan Alam, a relatively younger face in local politics.
Similarly, in Kishanganj — a constituency with a strong Muslim population — the party chose Kamrul Huda, who had recently switched sides from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to the Congress. Kamrul Huda is a familiar name in the region; he won the 2019 Kishanganj by-election on an AIMIM ticket, defeating the BJP candidate.
Party insiders say the Congress leadership wanted to project “fresh faces with stronger local connections” ahead of the polls. “There was a lot of pressure from the grassroots to give representation to those who are active and accessible,” said a senior Congress functionary in Patna.
However, several local leaders loyal to Afaque Alam expressed disappointment. “He worked tirelessly for the people of Kasba, especially during the floods,” said Mohammad Tauseef, a Congress ward president. “The party should not have removed such a committed MLA.”
Political observers say the inclusion of Kamrul Huda could strengthen the Congress’s image among Muslim voters, particularly in the Seemanchal region.
Speaking to reporters after the announcement, Kamrul Huda said, “The people of Kishanganj know my record. I have always worked for communal harmony and development. The Congress is the only party that can protect the rights of minorities in Bihar.”
Huda’s candidature is also being viewed as a calculated move by the Congress to reclaim Muslim-majority constituencies from AIMIM, which has been gradually expanding its base in Seemanchal over the past few years.
The Congress, which has so far announced 53 candidates has been struggling to maintain its relevance within the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) led by RJD. Allegations of ticket trading and lack of coordination between alliance partners have further weakened the party’s image.
Yet, political analysts believe the party’s decision to field more Muslim candidates shows an effort to regain minority trust that has shifted towards RJD and AIMIM in recent years.
“Muslims form nearly 17 per cent of Bihar’s population, and their votes can decide the outcome in dozens of constituencies,” said Prof Anwar Alam, a Patna-based political analyst. “By fielding Kamrul Huda and Irfan Alam, the Congress is trying to send a message that it still stands with minorities.”
The decision to replace Afaque Alam has stirred discontent among supporters. He had earlier defeated BJP and LJP candidates with significant margins in both 2015 and 2020 elections.
Despite his strong performance, the party replaced him without public explanation. Afaque Alam, when contacted by reporters, appeared calm but clearly disappointed. “I respect the party’s decision,” he said briefly. “I have always worked for the Congress and will continue to do so.”
However, a close aide revealed, “This move might affect the morale of party workers in Kasba. Many feel it was politically unwise to sideline a popular leader just before elections.”
The second list not only highlights Congress’s attempt to balance caste and community representation but also indicates a strategic focus on Muslim and Yadav voters, two of Bihar’s most influential voting blocs.
The presence of Jitendra Yadav in Purnea and two Muslim candidates in Kishanganj and Kasba shows a deliberate caste-community alignment aimed at countering the BJP-led NDA’s Hindutva narrative.
“The Congress is making a conscious effort to rebuild its old social coalition,” said political commentator Ajay Kumar, adding, “Muslim representation is a key part of that strategy, especially when the party faces erosion in traditional strongholds.”
The announcement has been welcomed cautiously by Muslim organisations. Maulana Khalid Rashid, a Lucknow-based cleric who often comments on minority politics, said, “Representation is important, but the Congress must also prove that it can protect our rights and address our issues sincerely, not just during elections.”
In Bihar’s Muslim-dominated districts such as Araria, Purnea, and Kishanganj, voters expressed mixed reactions. Farzana Parveen, a teacher in Kishanganj, said, “We are happy that Muslims have been given representation, but we will vote for those who actually work for people’s welfare, not just for slogans.”
The second phase of the Bihar election will cover several crucial constituencies, including Seemanchal, where Muslim voters play a decisive role.
