Congress Faces Internal Unease Over New Membership Criteria in Bihar

Brief By Newsbrief / 12:21 PM on 28 Feb 2026

The Congress party’s ongoing organisational restructuring in Bihar has triggered growing unease among leaders and grassroots workers over newly introduced membership criteria for key posts. Under the new rules, aspirants for district president positions must enroll at least 1,500 “Srijan Saathi” members, each contributing a ₹50 membership fee, before being considered eligible. Similar requirements have been set for other posts, including block presidents, state vice presidents, and general secretaries, effectively creating financial and organisational barriers for candidates.

Party sources indicate that many leaders consider the conditions impractical, especially in a state where the party has struggled electorally for years and worker morale remains low. Critics argue that when regular membership costs only ₹5, imposing higher fees under a new category could discourage participation rather than strengthen the organisation. Although the party high command has reportedly advised leaders to avoid public criticism, internal dissatisfaction continues to grow, raising questions about whether the strategy will strengthen or further strain the party’s grassroots network.