Ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, a disagreement erupted in the Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc on Sunday over the distribution of contest tickets.
Sitting Congress MLA from Kasba, Mohammad Afaque Alam, after being denied a ticket, leveled serious allegations against Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) president Rajesh Ram and Congress Legislature Party leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan. Alleging that the senior Congress leadership in Bihar was extorting ticket money, Mr. Alam demanded an inquiry from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
On Saturday (October 18, 2025) night, the Congress Election Committee released the names of five more candidates, with the party nominating Mohammad Irfan Alam for the Kasba Assembly constituency, replacing the three-time sitting MLA.
“The clean image of the party has been tarnished. I want to state very clearly that Rajesh Ram, Allavaru and Shakeel Ahamed Khan have extorted money. There are also some other leaders who have tarnished the Mahagathbandhan (‘Grand Alliance’). Rahul Gandhi-ji must step in and investigate the distribution of tickets on social media,” Mr. Alam said in Afaque.
Later that day, an audio clip purportedly showing Mr. Afaque Alam talking to Mr. Ram on the phone went viral on social media. In the audio clip, Mr. Afaque Alam is heard asking the BPCC President to intervene and talk to the party top brass in Delhi to give him a ticket.
In the audio clip, Mr. Ram is heard expressing his helplessness, saying that he had already given his best and had even signed his document, but some people in the party were engaged “differently”. His hands were tied, Mr. Ram is further heard in the audio clip saying that the party’s top leadership was “not listening to him”.
Mr. Ram is heard that Purnea MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav was also involved in the selection of Mr. Irfan Alam who is said to be close to the MP. On Friday, a video of Mr. Pappu Yadav and Mr. Irfan Alam went viral on social media. Kasba Assembly constituency falls under Purnea district.
On Saturday, Anand Madhab, spokesperson and chairman of BPCC’s research department, resigned with immediate effect. Disgruntled party leaders, including a sitting MLA and a former MLA, accused Mr. Allavar and Mr. Ram of “selling party tickets”.
Similar situations played out in the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Madan Prasad, who had contested the previous assembly elections from Madhuban Assembly constituency, was seen clamoring for a ticket. Mr. Prasad tore off his kurta outside former Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s residence and lay down on the road.
Mr. Prasad claimed that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s political adviser and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Yadav denied him the ticket because he did not pay what was demanded. “He told me to give ₹ 2.7 lakh for the ticket but I refused – Sanjay Yadav sold the ticket,” claimed Mr Prasad.
Another RJD leader, Ritu Jaiswal, who contested the 2020 assembly elections from the Pariharu assembly seat, upset at being denied a ticket, said she would contest as an independent candidate. “My conscience does not accept contesting the assembly elections from a constituency other than Parihar. I have clearly informed the party leadership that if the party does not change its decision, I will contest the elections from Parihar as an independent candidate,” Ms Jaiswal wrote on the X social media platform.
Smita Purve, daughter-in-law of former RJD state president Ramchandra Purve, was given the ticket.
Ms Jaiswal confirmed her intention in a later post. “I would like to inform all respected voters of Parihar Assembly constituency that tomorrow morning I will file my nomination as an independent (candidate) from Parihar Assembly constituency. I request all my friends, well-wishers and well-wishers to attend in large numbers and bestow their blessings,” Ms Jaiswal said.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inspected the INDIA block. “It is not known whether the alliance has been formed or not. The big question is whether the Mahagathbandhan exists or not,” Mr. Choudhary said.
Published – 19 October 2025 21:00 IST
