New Delhi, Nov 16, 2025: In the aftermath of a historic electoral victory in the 2025 Bihar Assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a sharp attack on Congress leader P Chidambaram for his opinion piece analyzing the poll results, accusing him of blaming Bihar voters instead of taking responsibility for the Opposition’s poor performance.

Chidambaram, in his column titled “Voting is not the end of responsibilities” published in the Indian Express, expressed disappointment that the people of Bihar did not elect what he termed a “strong Opposition.” The veteran Congress leader wrote that while voting is a fundamental right, it carries the responsibility to elect leaders who can offer effective governance and counterbalance the ruling party. He lamented that, given the state’s widespread poverty and unemployment, the electoral outcome did not reflect what he considered the best interest of Bihar’s populace.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla responded to the column by accusing Chidambaram and the Congress of failing to introspect. On X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “Instead of doing introspection, Congress has once again chosen to defend its prince by blaming janta. P Chidambaram writes ‘it is responsibility of voters to bring them to power’. How entitled and delusional are these guys?”

Poonawalla’s critique highlighted what he described as Congress’ pattern of deflecting accountability. He suggested that the party would blame electronic voting machines (EVMs), Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, and even the people of Bihar for its electoral failures, but would never hold Rahul Gandhi accountable. “Blame EVM. Blame SIR. Now blame Bihar ki Janta. Don’t blame Rahul for 95 losses. Rahul can do no wrong; Janta is wrong! Congress insults Bihar again!” Poonawalla wrote.

Further intensifying his criticism, Poonawalla referenced a news report quoting Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, who reportedly said that she would be the ideal candidate to lead the INDIA bloc, while Congress was leading in “acceptability” and “popularity.” He used this to argue that Congress allies lack confidence in Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. “Now TMC, before the Parliament session, wants the INDIA alliance leader to be changed—they have no confidence in Rahul Gandhi. When will Congress wake up and smell the coffee? Stop blaming EVM and SIR. Stop blaming Janta (like Chidambaram did). Fault lies in Rahul, who has lost 95 elections. Congress = liability for INDIA alliance partners,” Poonawalla wrote.

Chidambaram’s column analyzed the Bihar assembly results, in which the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, followed closely by its ally Janata Dal (United) with 85 seats. The Opposition faced a devastating setback: the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) was reduced to just 25 seats, while Congress managed a mere six. Chidambaram reflected on the reasons behind the voters’ choices, noting that despite widespread poverty and unemployment in Bihar, the electorate did not favor the Opposition.

He urged the citizens of Bihar to “re-discover the spirit of the Champaran era,” invoking the legacy of the historic Gandhian movement in the region. Chidambaram emphasized that the act of voting entails responsibilities beyond casting a ballot; it requires selecting candidates who can genuinely challenge the ruling party and provide effective governance. He described it as “unfortunate” that Bihar did not choose what he considered a strong Opposition, arguing that the responsibility to build a robust political counterweight is greater than the mere exercise of the right to vote.

The BJP, however, interpreted Chidambaram’s remarks as an attempt to shift blame away from Congress leadership, particularly Rahul Gandhi, for the party’s poor electoral showing. Poonawalla accused Congress of “defending its prince” by holding voters responsible for the party’s failures, a tactic he described as “entitled and delusional.” He reiterated that Congress’ repeated electoral misfires, including losing 95 elections, were a reflection of its internal shortcomings rather than any fault of the electorate.

The exchange underscores the heightened political tensions following the Bihar election results, which have prompted introspection and finger-pointing across parties. While Chidambaram’s column called for self-reflection among voters and a renewed commitment to democratic responsibility, the BJP seized the opportunity to question Congress’ leadership and highlight what it sees as a persistent pattern of deflecting accountability.

As political debates continue, the Bihar Assembly elections of 2025 have become a focal point for discussions on leadership, voter responsibility, and the future of the Opposition at both state and national levels. Chidambaram’s column, while intended to provide a thoughtful critique, has sparked sharp rebuttals, exemplifying the ongoing contest of narratives between ruling and opposition parties in India.