During the weeks leading up to the Bihar Assembly elections, a photo that blew up on social media showed Congress star Rahul Gandhi and Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahani diving into a local reservoir with a group of fishermen. The clip, taken after a rally in Begusarai, was meant to show their friendly side and suggest that fishing‑folk support might swing the district in their favor.
In reality, the next day the voting line told a different story. Begusarai’s residents backed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which won five of the district’s seven seats. Analysts say the image didn’t change the outcome.
“What voters really cared about was their experience of ‘jungle raj’ – the chaotic rule that followed the RJD’s dominance,” said one local. “Choosing Congress or VIP felt like returning to that past.”
The Shiv Sena‑led Mahagathbandhan, which hoped to draw on the crowd of the Sahani community, saw a surprise defeat. Locals told reporters that the alliance, along with Rahul’s presence, brought back memories of RJD’s poor governance. They argued the Mahagathbandhan left “rejected” people behind and that the joint effort was merely a stunt.
“You can’t win a vote with a one‑off jump in a pond,” said a resident of Shankh village. “The community still remembers how the RJD ran the state like a jungle.” He added that Congress must break ties with the RJD and contest ballots on its own to earn credibility.
Another interviewee highlighted that constant engagement with voters is essential. “It’s about everyday meetings, not a single day’s event. That’s why the leave‑opinion of the voters remained negative.”
The episode shows that social‑media moments alone can’t sway Bihar’s elections, where history and local politics carry far more weight. For the Mahagathbandhan, it may signal the need for a new strategy that cuts deeper into the remembered “jungle raj” and addresses voters’ real concerns.
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