Rahul Gandhi in Bihar today for third time in 3 months as Congress steps up EBC push

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has visited Bihar for the third time within a period of three months. Congress is now strongly active in the state with an aim to mobilize the highly valuable EBC (Extremely Backward Classes), Dalit and minority vote banks in the upcoming assembly elections.

He will also be accompanying him today in an NSUI's all-India in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar-led yatra. It will start in Begusarai, a district of origin for Kanhaiya as well. He has a 'Constitution Writing' programme to visit in Patna afterwards. This visit is not only to get the votes but also an endeavour to further activate the new top brass of Congress in Bihar, political circles assess.

Specifically, the presence of Rahul Gandhi adds strength to the idea that the Congress is hatching a new plan around this young trinity - Kanhaiya Kumar, Rajesh Ram and Krishna Allavaru, the Bihar in-charge of the All India Congress Committee. The Congress, which had been in the shadow of the RJD for so long, is now attempting to distinguish its political stance and attempting to construct a new plank around the EBC community.

It must be pointed out that 36.1 percent of the entire population of Bihar comprises EBC, and they happen to be the largest social group in Bihar. Congress is bringing back various great leaders in the 'Save the Constitution' program to reminisce about history and contribution of the class. In the current program, Rahul Gandhi will remember the role of the EBC leader Budhu Nonya, who participated in the anti-British movement, who was martyred at the hands of the British.

While Bihar Congress spokesperson Ranjan Gupta recently asserted in a statement that according to the state's caste survey figures, 4.2 percent EBC are graduates and 6.31 percent are engineers. Doctors are almost zero. These statistics are a stark reflection of the social imbalance in the state.

As a component of current party realignment, the position of Bihar Congress President has been changed and transferred to Rajesh Ram. He is an MLA from the Dalit group who has been elected from Katihar.  Congress is trying through these changes to show that they really want to bet on a new political combination this time.