Patna (Bihar) : Bhagirath Manjhi, son of the late social figure Dashrath Manjhi, stated on Wednesday that he had asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for an assembly election ticket and was given assurances — but it did not materialise.
Manjhi claimed that he sought a seat either from Barachhati or Bodh Gaya constituency under the Congress banner but was overlooked while other aspirants received nomination letters. “Everybody else got tickets, but not me,” he said.
What he says happened
He travelled to Delhi and stayed four days hoping to secure the ticket. Despite submitting his documents and making his case, he said he never got to meet Rahul Gandhi personally to clear the matter.
According to Manjhi, the assurance from Gandhi created a strong expectation among his supporters and family but the final decision did not go his way. He said he feels the move sends a discouraging message to his constituency’s voters.
Political angle and context
The Congress is part of the INDIA alliance that is contesting the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. Seat-sharing and candidate selection have been tense topics within the coalition.
Political observers note that Manjhi’s claim may point to larger internal friction within the Congress and its efforts in the state’s election preparations. The family name of Dashrath Manjhi carries symbolic value among voters, and skipping his son could affect perceptions among certain communities.
Next steps & reactions
Manjhi said he will wait for a formal explanation from the party leadership. So far, Congress has not issued a public response to his allegations.
With nomination deadlines approaching for the polls, this matter could surface within internal party discussions or media coverage in the coming days.