Anil Sharma Quits Bihar Scene : Ex-Congress Boss Bids Adieu

Former Bihar Congress President Anil Sharma dealt a blow to the party’s prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls by resigning on Sunday, citing concerns about its “disastrous” alliance with the RJD. During a press conference held here, Sharma expressed strong disapproval of the recent high-profile induction of former MP Rajesh Ranjan, also known as Pappu Yadav.

“Today, the party leadership is busy with a rally in Delhi where it is talking of the need to save democracy. Sadly, though, no democracy can be seen in the Congress where even our duly elected national president can take no step without consulting Rahul Gandhi or his close aide KC Venugopal,” alleged Sharma

Sharma is now the fourth former Bihar Congress president to resign from the party in nearly ten years. Previously, Ashok Chaudhary, who left the party and joined JD(U) in 2018, also resigned from the state president’s post following a factional dispute.

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In 2015, Ram Jatan Sinha departed from the Congress and briefly aligned with JD(U), subsequently experiencing a period of political obscurity. The preceding year witnessed Mehboob Ali Kaiser’s entry into late Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP, leading to two consecutive terms in the Lok Sabha representing Khagaria.

Sharma maintained that he belonged to a different category, asserting  “I joined Congress in 1985. In nearly four decades, I held organisational posts twice, as state general secretary and then as state president. Never did I lobby for a ticket or a legislative council berth for myself. Nor have I explored possibilities in any other party before quitting the Congress.”

Regarding the timing of his decision just before the Lok Sabha polls, he stated “I have, since my state president days, been critical of the tie-up with RJD which has helped them thrive at our expense. In the eyes of the people, we have only ended up being held guilty of supporting the jungle raj of Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi.” Sharma mentioned that the tipping point was reached when Pappu Yadav was brought into the party.

“He was virtually felicitated at the national headquarters. The party is upset that Lalu has thwarted its attempt to give Yadav a ticket. Instead, it should have thought about many better candidates, who are not getting a chance because Congress leadership cannot assert itself before the domineering ally,” he said.

On the other hand, Rajesh Rathore, the chairman of the state Congress media cell, released a statement criticizing Sharma for attempting to make “a cowardly exit” and searching for “an alibi to align with Narendra Modi”.