Rahul Gandhi kicked off his campaign for the Bihar assembly elections in Muzaffarpur, addressing a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters. This rally marked his first public appearance after weeks of silence regarding the Mahagathbandhan's seat-sharing issues. Despite the ongoing alliance tensions, Rahul focused his criticism primarily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sparing Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar from direct attacks, which surprised many.

The rally took place in Sakra, a constituency reserved for Scheduled Castes, where Rahul shared the stage with Tejashwi Yadav, the Mahagathbandhan's chief ministerial candidate. He opened his speech by engaging the crowd, asking, "How is the mood?" to which they responded with chants of "Josh is high, badlo sarkar!" Rahul then launched into a series of sharp critiques of Modi, suggesting that the Prime Minister would only appear during elections and would vanish afterward. He stated, "Ask Modi ji to come on stage and dance — he will dance before the election. But after the election, he will disappear. You will find him only at Ambani’s wedding."

Rahul also condemned the government's preparations for the Chhath festival, calling them a mere spectacle. He accused Modi of being disconnected from the people of Bihar, saying, "Modi ji has nothing to do with Chhath or with Bihari people; he only puts on a show." He further criticized the Prime Minister's economic policies, claiming that initiatives like GST and demonetisation had harmed small businesses.

In a notable moment, Rahul introduced the acronym SIR, stating it stood for "chunav chori," accusing the BJP of stealing elections. He urged the crowd to be cautious, asserting that the Constitution was under attack by the BJP and RSS. He promised that a Mahagathbandhan government would prioritize social justice and inclusivity, aiming to make Bihar a global centre.

The rally was part of a broader strategy to showcase unity within the Mahagathbandhan, especially after reports of discord over seat-sharing. Rahul is set to address another rally in Darbhanga, where he will continue to campaign alongside Tejashwi Yadav. The Bihar assembly elections are scheduled for November 6 and 11, with results expected on November 14. The Congress party is contesting 61 seats, while the RJD will field candidates in 143 seats, as they seek to present a united front against the ruling NDA.