Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 14: Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor took a pointed stance on his own party’s performance in the Bihar Assembly elections on Friday, as early trends indicated a decisive lead for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Speaking to the media, Tharoor emphasized the need for a careful and comprehensive assessment of the results, which show the INDIA alliance struggling.

“It's a question of leading at the moment... let's wait for the Election Commission to discuss and disclose the results,” Tharoor said, stressing that all parties, including Congress and the RJD, must study their electoral performance in detail.

Tharoor noted that multiple factors influence election outcomes, adding, “One has to look in totality as during elections there are a number of factors. Lot of issues have to be looked at, let us analyse what happened. I was not invited to campaign there, so those who went there will know better what happened there.” He further highlighted that Congress was not the senior ally in Bihar, implicitly acknowledging the party’s limited role in the INDIA alliance.

The senior Congress leader also took aim at the NDA government, alleging that benefits were offered to women voters just before the Model Code of Conduct came into force. “Whether we like it or not... that is legal under our laws... I am afraid this is not the first time that we have seen state governments doing such things, giving benefits to certain segments of society,” Tharoor said, citing similar instances in Maharashtra.

Tharoor’s remarks come as early media reports show Congress leading on only about five of the 61 seats it contested in Bihar. Analysts say this reflects a disappointing performance for the party, which has traditionally struggled to maintain its influence in the state against dominant regional allies.

Tharoor has made similar critiques of his own party in recent months, causing friction within Congress circles, particularly in Kerala, where the party faces strong opposition from both the CPI-M and BJP. His statements suggest a growing willingness to publicly question party strategy in the face of electoral setbacks.