Rahul Gandhi’s Bihar Campaign Faces Headwind as Dalit Leader Defects

Rahul Gandhi’s campaign to secure Dalit votes in Bihar has encountered a hurdle with the exit of Dr. Ashok Kumar Ram from the Congress. Ram, a former working president of the Bihar Congress and a six-time MLA, has joined the Janata Dal United. Before leaving, Ram alleged that the party neglected Dalits. The Congress is working to regain the support of Dalit voters, who constitute a significant portion of Bihar’s population. Gandhi has undertaken several initiatives, including meeting with the family of Dashrath Manjhi and appointing Dalit leaders to key positions within the party. The Congress party’s vote share has declined, despite efforts to engage with the Dalit community.