Rahul Gandhi Alleges Bihar Election Was Unfair from the Very Beginni

In his immediate response to the outcome of the Bihar Assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described the results as “truly surprising” and claimed that the poll was “not fair from the very beginning.” 

Gandhi took to social media (X) to thank the “millions of voters” in Bihar who supported the Mahagathbandhan, but expressed deep disappointment that his alliance could not translate that support into victory in what he characterised as a flawed electoral process. 

He framed the defeat not just as a political loss, but part of a larger struggle to protect India’s Constitution and democracy. Gandhi asserted that the Congress and its INDIA Bloc partners will undertake a thorough review of the election results to understand where they faltered and how to strengthen their strategy going ahead. 

Gandhi’s comments echo broader concerns raised by the Congress leadership about alleged misuse of “constitutional institutions” and possible large-scale vote irregularities. 

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also weighed in, calling for a deep dive into the polling outcome. He expressed respect for the people’s decision but warned against the weakening of democratic institutions. 

Context & Backdrop:

The India Today report highlights that Gandhi sees this as more than just losing seats — it’s a fight for democratic values. 

According to Scroll, the INDIA Bloc won only 35 out of 243 seats, with Congress bagging a mere 6 seats. 

The charge of unfairness aligns with prior allegations—Gandhi and other leaders have previously accused the Election Commission and ruling parties of manipulating voter rolls and disenfranchising voters. 

Analysis:

Rahul Gandhi’s strong statement signals two key things:

1. Political Repositioning: By framing the loss as a result of an unfair process, he is shifting some blame away from strategy or local ground failure, and positioning Congress as a defender of democratic norms rather than just a losing party.

2. Mobilisation Strategy: The promise of a “deep review” suggests that Congress and the INDIA alliance will be re-evaluating their approach, possibly preparing for future fights, not just in Bihar but nationally.

His narrative also raises the stakes — making this less about a single election loss and more about systemic issues with electoral integrity, which could be a rallying point for opposition consolidation.