Bihar Congress digital drive faces internal backlash over fee-based appointments

Seven months after the Congress party suffered a defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections, internal dissent has emerged over a digital outreach programme launched by the state unit. Several senior leaders have questioned both the process and outcome of the initiative, which ties organisational appointments to the number of supporters enrolled.

The Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC), led by president Rajesh Ram, launched the Srijan Saathi Jansampark programme on April 11. According to the party, the programme aims to strengthen the organisation and establish a “transparent and robust digital system” linking positions with grassroots work and participation.

Under the programme, aspiring office-bearers are required to enrol party supporters as “srijan saathis” by collecting Rs 50 from each. This amount is significantly higher than the party’s standard membership fee of Rs 10. Appointments at the state and district levels are to be based on the number of such supporters enrolled.

The campaign is monitored through a mobile application. Existing Congress members and non-members can register as “srijan saathis” by paying Rs 50 through the app.

Rajesh Ram clarified that the exercise is “not a membership drive” but a mechanism to assess the level of support enjoyed by aspiring leaders. However, critics within the party allege that the programme effectively makes financial capacity a key criterion for appointments.

According to a letter issued by Ram, a leader would be recommended for the post of Bihar Congress vice-president upon enrolling 3,000 “srijan saathis”, 2,000 for general secretary, 1,000 for secretary, and 200 for a district-level post.

Senior state Congress leaders argue that the initiative contradicts the party’s ideological position, especially that articulated by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. “On one hand, Gandhi talks about running the party on ideology. On the other, the Bihar Congress is witnessing what appears to be the sale of organisational posts,” a senior leader said.

“Anyone with enough money can enrol 2,000-3,000 people and stake claim to a senior position. If someone spends Rs 1.5 lakh to enrol 3,000 people and submits the list, they become eligible for recommendation as vice-president without any other checks and balances,” the leader added.

Sources said the offices of Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge have been informed of the row. A senior party MP has taken up the issue of the high fee with Kharge, who is learnt to have expressed surprise and said he would look into the matter.

“People who joined the party only recently are getting senior organisational posts because they can spend money, while those who have worked for years are being overlooked,” another Congress leader said.

Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP from Bihar’s Katihar, Tariq Anwar, told The Indian Express that he was opposed to the programme, saying it “violated” party rules. “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 enrol,” Anwar said, adding that no senior leaders in the Bihar Congress were consulted before the programme was launched “unilaterally”.

Asked about the Rs 50 fee, Anwar said: “This is completely wrong and against party rules.”

Responding to criticism, Ram said the initiative was a “pilot project approved by the AICC leadership”. He reiterated that it is “not a membership drive” but an organisational reform.