Why Bihar Congress's Digital Campaign Has Triggered A Political Storm

Bihar is a state where the Congress party has been in disarray for decades. It holds just 6 seats in the 243 seat legislative assembly, and has 3 members in the Lok Sabha from this state. For the last three decades the party has watched its vote share dwindle as it was countered and outmaneuvered by the BJP, RJD, and JDU at every turn.

In the post-Mandal environment the last congress chief minister in the state, Jagannath Mishra, was ousted in 1990. Since then the party has been in constant decline, struggling for scraps at the mercy of its rivals turned allies, the RJD. In April 2026, the party tried to rebuild itself through a digital campaign, the Srijan Saathi Jansampark Abhiyan, but this too has come under the scanner with oppostion from senior leaders in the state.   

What Is The Srijan Saathi Programme?

The Srijan Saathi Jansampark Abhiyan was launched by Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president Rajesh Ram in April 2026 as a special digital drive aimed at strengthening the organisation at the grassroots level while making it more transparent and accountable. The primary stated objective is to directly connect party leadership and organisational positions with grassroots workers and the general public.

To become a Srijan Saathi, an applicant must be a registered Bihar voter, at least 18 years old, not a member of any other political party, and willing to pay a registration fee of ₹50. Membership lasts five years. Registrations go through a dedicated BPCC app available on the Play Store, which requires a voter ID and photograph.

All 53 organisational district presidents in Bihar have been directed to implement the drive, with each required to enrol 2,000 Srijan Saathis in their respective areas.

Why Are Congress Leaders Opposing It?

Many Congress leaders in the state are opposed to the program. They feel that it would be akin to selling party posts as anyone with enough money could likely get elected to a position without having worked in the organization.

This many feel alienates the grassroots workers and promotes people with the financial muscle who could buy the posts.

Lok Sabha MP from Katihar and senior Congress leader Tariq Anwar expressed his opposition to the initiative to the Indian Express saying this would encourage undeserving people.

“I am against this programme. In the name of organisational restructuring, undeserving people are being encouraged. This is akin to distributing posts on the basis of how many members someone can enroll,” Anwar told the paper.          

How Are Organisational Posts Linked To The Campaign?

The explicit link between Srijan Saathi enrolments and party post eligibility is one of the campaign's most controversial features. Aspirants for the post of Block President must enroll at least 200 Srijan Saathis to be considered. State Vice President aspirants must enroll 3,000, General Secretary aspirants 2,000, State Secretary aspirants 1,000, and district-level position seekers 200.

Critics say this framework effectively converts a party position into something that can be bought through digital recruitment. A leader with money and social networks can enroll thousands of supporters through the app regardless of their own political track record. A long-serving grassroots worker without the same digital reach or financial resources is disadvantaged.

What Has The Bihar Congress Leadership Said?

State Congress president Rajesh Ram has maintained that the campaign is a genuine grassroots outreach effort designed to make the party more transparent and accountable, and that the ₹50 fee is a standard nominal charge to ensure committed membership.

Responding to such criticism, Ram further told the Indian Express that the initiative was a “pilot project approved by the AICC leadership”. “This is not a membership drive. It is an organisational reform. If someone wants to become a general secretary, 2,000 people endorse that person by paying Rs 50 and completing the digital process on the Bihar Congress mobile application. It helps us assess the support a candidate has."

He also accused Bihar Congress Leaders of being unhappy as they can no longer lobby for their candidates aiming to get them elected to organisational positions.

It also challenges the existing delegate-based system in Bihar Congress, which is why some leaders are opposing it.” he told the paper.

Has The Congress High Command Reacted?

No public response from the top leadership has been issued. Though media reports say that the high command have been apprised of the situation.

The broader context at the national level is relevant, the Congress party is simultaneously developing a new Sangathan Srijan Department at the national level which will oversee District Congress Committees, block-level committees, booth committees, and all frontal organisations, and will have the authority to make necessary changes where targets are not met.