The list of Star Campaigners released by the Indian National Congress for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections has become a topic of national level discussion. Although the list includes 40 prominent Congress leaders, it is surprising that Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, the Deputy Chief Minister, and even any Telangana Ministers are missing in that list. This unexpected omission has drawn the attention of political analysts across the country.
Indian National Congress – Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 (Phase 1)
List of Star Campaigners
Shri Mallikarjun Kharge
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Smt. Sonia Gandhi
Shri Rahul Gandhi
Shri K.C. Venugopal
Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Shri Ashok Gehlot
Shri Bhupesh Baghel
Shri Digvijaya Singh
Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Smt. Meira Kumar
Shri Krishna Allavaru
Shri Sachin Pilot
Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala
Shri Syed Nasir Hussain
Shri Charanjit Singh Channi
Shri Gaurav Gogoi
Shri Tariq Anwar
Dr. Mohammad Jawed
Shri Akhilesh Prasad Singh
Shri Manoj Ram
Smt. Alka Lamba
Shri Kanhaiya Kumar
Shri Pawan Khera
Shri Imran Pratapgarhi
Shri Shakeel Ahmad
Shri Jitu Patwari
Shri Sukhdeo Bhagat
Shri Rajesh Kumar Ram
Shri Shakeel Ahmad Khan
Shri Madan Mohan Jha
Shri Ajay Rai
Shri Jignesh Mevani
Smt. Ranjeet Ranjan
Shri Rajesh Ranjan @ Pappu Yadav
Shri Anil Jaihind
Shri Rajendra Pal Gautam
Shri Furqan Ansari
Shri Uday Bhanu Chib
Shri Subodh Kant Sahay
This list includes national-level figures such as Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and senior leaders like Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel, Digvijaya Singh, Sachin Pilot, Kanhaiya Kumar, and Pappu Yadav and others . However, not a single leader from Telangana state congress party has been included — a politically significant move that cannot be ignored.
Was This the Impact of Revanth Reddy’s Remarks?
The Telangana Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy made a controversial remark in an interview, which sparked nationwide criticism. He reportedly stated that “Telangana people have a different DNA from Biharis — we are more intelligent.” This statement was widely condemned as demeaning the people of Bihar, and it has now come to appear that his words have had an effect may be reflected in this exclusion from the Bihar Congress list.
His comments had embarrassed the Congress national leadership as well. In a politically sensitive state like Bihar, such remarks could easily turn public sentiment against the party. Hence, it appears the Congress high command intentionally distanced Revanth Reddy and Telangana congress leaders from being part of the Bihar campaign team.
Prashant Kishor:
Prominent political strategist Prashant Kishor (PK) reacted sharply to Revanth Reddy’s remarks. PK publicly declared that since Revanth had insulted the people of Bihar, he would ensure Revanth ’s defeat in Telangana in the 2028 elections. Prashant Kishor, through his Jan Suraaj Yatra, has built massive grassroots support in Bihar.
As his influence grows, Revanth’s controversial comments may continue to have a negative political impact in the state. Although PK once served as a strategist for the Congress party , he has now positioned himself as a strong critic of the party. Given his reaction to Revanth’s comments and his growing influence in Bihar state , the Congress high command’s decision to exclude Revanth Reddy from the star campaigners list appears strategic and deliberate.
Kanhaiya Kumar’s Criticism
Bihar Congress youth leader and former JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar has also openly criticized agnaist Revanth Reddy. In one meeting, he said:
“Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy lacks political wisdom. He does not understand the ideology of the Congress.”
Such remarks exposed the resentment within Bihar Congress circles toward Telangana leaders. Kanhaiya Kumar currently enjoys a strong influence among Bihar’s youth. Including him in the list while excluding Telangana leaders clearly reflects the stand of the Congress high command.
Bihar–Telangana Relations Reflected
Revanth Reddy’s “Bihari DNA” comment not only created political controversy but also challenged the unity of the Congress at the national level. There are thousands of migrant workers from Bihar living in Telangana, and such insulting remarks had created a local-level backlash.
It is understood that the people of Bihar have not yet forgotten or forgiven those “DNA” comments.
Hence, the Congress leadership gave priority to local faces and nationally acceptable leaders for the Bihar elections, deliberately avoiding Telangana representation.
Absence of Telangana Leaders – A Symbolic Decision
Among the 40 star campaigners list , leaders from Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh were included.However, no leaders from Telangana. This signals that the Congress high command currently views Revanth Reddy’s image as weak at the national level.
Even though the Congress came to power in Telangana in 2023, internal dissension and dissatisfaction among senior leaders against Revanth have reportedly reached the high command. Hence, keeping him away from a key election like Bihar appears to be a calculated move, as per political observers.
Signals About Revanth Reddy’s Future
Revanth Reddy rose to prominence in Telangana with the image of a young and aggressive leader, but his remarks and controversial statements are now hurting the party’s national standing. The Bihar Star Campaigners List exposes this growing discomfort within the leadership. This is not merely about the Bihar elections — it is an indicator of Revanth Reddy’s standing in national politics and how the high command perceives his future.
New Equations within Congress
The inclusion of Kanhaiya Kumar, Pappu Yadav, Jignesh Mevani, and Imran Pratapgarhi represents the rise of a new generation of Congress leaders. By promoting them, the Congress is signaling that it values both the old guard and new faces equally. Given that Kanhaiya Kumar has indirectly criticized Revanth Reddy, his inclusion in the list may be seen as a silent warning to the Telangana Chief Minister from the high command.
Conclusion
The Bihar Congress Star Campaigners list is not just a routine list — it reflects the internal power dynamics within the Congress across India. The oath of Prashant Kishor, the criticism by Kanhaiya Kumar, and the repercussions of Revanth Reddy’s remarks have all combined to make the absence of Telangana leaders a strong political message.
In the coming months, it remains to be seen how Congress performs in Bihar, but one thing is clear — the Congress high command no longer sees Revanth Reddy as a national campaign face.
That space is now being filled by leaders like Kanhaiya Kumar, Pappu Yadav, and Sachin Pilot, marking the beginning of a new phase within the party.
https://sec.bihar.gov.in/
Source: Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee – Official Website
✍️ By Veeramusti Sathish, M.A. (JMC)
Independent Journalist & Political Analyst
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