‘Preparing for 2nd freedom struggle’: Congress gears up for first Working Committee meeting in Bihar since 1940

Congress’s Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru says CWC meeting in Patna will not just be about Bihar, but about issues facing all of India

Preparations underway at the Cong office in Patna. (Express)

Preparations underway at the Congress office in Patna. (Express)

PatnaSeptember 23, 2025 10:21 AM IST First published on: Sep 22, 2025 at 09:39 PM IST

With political activity heating up in Bihar ahead of Assembly elections later this year, the state unit of the Congress is gearing up to host an extended meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) in Patna. The state last hosted a CWC meeting in 1940.

At a press conference on Monday, the Congress’s Bihar in-charge, Krishna Allavaru, said the coming CWC meeting was not just about Bihar, but about the whole country.

“Bihar is now the political centre of India. With the support of the people of Bihar, we are preparing for the second freedom struggle. The Congress party and the INDIA bloc are ready to fight for the rights of the people of Bihar and India,” he said at the press conference that was also attended by the party’s state unit president Rajesh Ram and the leader of the Congress Legislative Party, Shakeel Ahmad Khan.

At the CWC meeting, Allavaru said “crucial issues that both Bihar and the nation are facing today, such as unemployment, inflation, rising crime, and atrocities against women,” would be discussed.

Criticising the Centre, Allavaru said, “Despite 11 years passing, Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and his government have shown no interest in solving these issues. They are like students who do not believe in studying, but instead cheat their way through exams. Modi and (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah steal elections, which is why they don’t address the real problems of the people.”

State Congress president Ram emphasised on the importance of holding the CWC meeting in Patna. “Sadaqat Ashram (where the Bihar office of the Congress is located) has been a historical site, where leaders like Dr Rajendra Prasad, Mahatma Gandhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru made key decisions during the freedom struggle. It is only fitting that this meeting, where we will discuss the future of our nation, is held here,” he said.

Shakeel Ahmad Khan echoed similar sentiments, saying, “For the past 20 years, the government of Bihar has systematically exploited the people, along with the central government for the last 11 years. The extended CWC meeting will focus on finding solutions to the problems faced by the people of Bihar, including unemployment, crime, migration of 2.9 lakh people, along with the plight of youth, women, and farmers.”

Asked about concerns regarding seat-sharing within the INDIA bloc, Allavaru said the process was progressing smoothly. “The seat-sharing process within the INDIA bloc is moving forward in a positive manner. There is no concern within our alliance,” he said.