By In a noteworthy move ahead of the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, Telangana Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, acting as the election observer for the Indian National Congress in Bihar, joined the campaign trail in the state. His participation underscores the strategic importance the Congress attaches to the state polls and marks a visible cross-regional push to shore up support for the opposition coalition. He arrived in Patna and travelled to West Champaran district, participating in nomination proceedings and addressing rallies focused on challenging the incumbent NDA alliance in Bihar.
Campaign Engagement: From Nomination to Rallying Support
During his visit, Ponguleti took part in the filing of nomination papers for Congress candidate Amit Giri in the Noutan Assembly constituency in West Champaran. He held meetings with local party functionaries, helped strategise campaign efforts and addressed gatherings of activists. In his public address, he invoked the leadership of Rahul Gandhi as a motivating force, saying the Congress leader had “awakened the people of Bihar” and exposed the alleged manipulations of the ruling alliance.
Ponguleti also projected confidence that the opposition coalition — the broader Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, comprising Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Left parties — was poised for a sweep in the elections. He asserted this in direct contrast to the governing NDA regime in the state.
Stinging Critique of the NDA Government in Bihar
A central part of Ponguleti’s remarks was his sharp criticism of the NDA government in Bihar, led by Nitish Kumar (JDU) in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He alleged that the alliance had failed the people of Bihar on multiple fronts: “The Nitish-BJP regime has been reduced to mere rhetoric,” he said. “It is an inefficient government that has disappointed the people in every sphere.” Deccan Chronicle+1
Ponguleti charged that youth unemployment and migration from Bihar to southern states were visible signs of failure. “Wherever we go in southern India, we see the youth of Bihar struggling for livelihoods,” he remarked, framing this as an affront to dignity. The Hans India
Moreover, he accused the NDA alliance of being driven by the hunger for power rather than public welfare, saying Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was “clinging to his chair through unethical political manoeuvres.”
Setting the Narrative: Opposition Confidence, Government Vulnerability
The tone of Ponguleti’s intervention was one of high confidence and assertiveness. By predicting a “sweep” for the Mahagathbandhan, he sought to portray the opposition as the rising force. At the same time, by spotlighting the alleged governance failures of the NDA, he worked to frame the election as not just a battle of parties but a referendum on performance and accountability.
He also pointed to recent announcements by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of incentives for women as an indirect admission of the alliance’s impending defeat — a rhetorical device intended to amplify the message of weakness in the government camp.
Relevance of a Telangana Minister in Bihar Politics
Ponguleti’s presence in Bihar underscores how national and inter-state political linkages are becoming more active ahead of major elections. The Congress has designated him as the party’s observer in Bihar, signalling that the outcome of the state elections is being viewed beyond regional confines. His involvement may serve multiple purposes: galvanising local campaign machinery, injecting external momentum, and emphasising the national significance of the struggle against the NDA.
It also reflects the strategy of integrating party resources across state boundaries to make a broader push in key battlegrounds like Bihar, where the stakes are high for both government and opposition.
Key Issues Raised & Campaign Themes
Ponguleti’s speeches touched on several themes:
- Governance failure: He charged the NDA with failing Bihar’s youth, neglecting welfare and relying on rhetoric rather than delivery.
- Migration and dignity: By pointing to Bihari youths migrating to the south for work, he sought to tie economic hardship to the ruling alliance’s policies.
- Power vs welfare: The insinuation that the NDA is more focused on retaining power than serving people aims to tap into anti-incumbency sentiment.
- Opposition readiness: His prediction of a decisive victory for the Mahagathbandhan is aimed at shaping public perception of momentum and inevitability.
Collectively, these themes align with the opposition’s broader campaign strategy: to portray the election as a change mandate and challenge the credibility of the incumbent government.
Looking Ahead: Implications and Watch-Points
The impact of Ponguleti’s campaign role will depend on several factors. Firstly, how far his remarks resonate with the electorate in Bihar (particularly rural youth, job-seekers and migrant families) remains to be seen. Secondly, converting public rhetoric into mobilised votes will require strong ground-level organisation — nomination participation and speeches are only the visible tip.
For the NDA, the challenge will be to respond to the critique and reaffirm its governance credentials ahead of polling. For the opposition, sustaining the momentum and avoiding internal fissures among alliance partners will be vital. The upcoming vote-counting day, and how predictions align with actual outcomes, will also determine whether the narrative of sweeping change holds water.
Conclusion
Minister Ponguleti’s participation in the Bihar poll campaign and his pointed dissection of the NDA alliance mark a determined move by the Congress and its allies to make inroads in a high-stakes contest. By bringing external leadership into the state campaign and adopting a strong rhetorical posture, the opposition is signalling that this election is more than just a regional battle — it is viewed as part of a broader national contest. Whether his involvement translates into electoral gains for the Mahagathbandhan will depend on delivery, momentum, and the electorate’s response to the themes of governance, dignity and change.
