Bihar Congress Changes Media Leadership: Ajay Paswan Replaces Rajesh Rathod Amid MLC Election Contest

Bihar Congress has appointed Ajay Kumar Paswan as the new head of its Media and Publicity Department, replacing long-serving party leader Rajesh Rathod. The organisational change comes days after Rathod filed his nomination as an independent candidate from the Tirhut Teachers’ constituency in the upcoming Bihar Legislative Council elections.

Ajay Paswan Takes Charge of Bihar Congress Media Department

The Bihar Congress has made a significant organisational change by appointing Ajay Kumar Paswan as the chairperson of the party’s Media and Publicity Department.

The appointment was approved by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and has taken effect immediately. Paswan replaces Rajesh Rathod, who had been associated with the party’s media operations for several years.

The change comes at an important time for the Bihar Congress, with the state’s political environment remaining active because of the ongoing Bihar Legislative Council elections.

Paswan will now be responsible for presenting the party’s position on political developments, organisational activities and major public issues through the media. The appointment gives him a prominent role in shaping the Congress’s communication strategy in Bihar.

Rajesh Rathod Was Associated With the Media Department for Nearly Eight Years

Rajesh Rathod had held the media-related responsibility in the Bihar Congress for nearly eight years, making him one of the party’s familiar faces in public communication.

According to the source report, Rathod is from Sitamarhi district and is currently contesting the Tirhut Teachers’ Legislative Council seat as an independent candidate.

His decision to contest the MLC election independently came after the Congress announced candidates for five of the eight Legislative Council seats going to polls. Rathod's name was not included in the Congress candidate list for the Tirhut Teachers’ constituency, after which he proceeded with his own nomination.

The situation has added another layer to the political contest within the broader opposition alliance.

Why Did Rajesh Rathod Contest the MLC Election as an Independent?

The Tirhut Teachers’ constituency has become a politically significant contest because Rajesh Rathod is fighting as an independent candidate, while the CPI has again nominated sitting MLC Sanjay Kumar Singh from the seat.

The source report notes that political circles have linked Rathod’s removal from the media position with his decision to contest the election independently. However, Rathod has denied that the two developments are directly connected.

Rathod has maintained that the organisational change was already planned and that he had held the media responsibility for a long period. According to his explanation, a new leader was being given the opportunity to take over the responsibility.

He also indicated that his involvement in the MLC election meant he would not be able to devote the same amount of time to the media department.

Rathod Says He Remains a Congress and Alliance Supporter

Despite contesting the Tirhut Teachers’ seat independently, Rathod has described himself as a committed Congress worker and supporter of the alliance.

He has argued that the MLC election is different from a conventional partisan election and that voters in the constituency consider the candidate’s performance and work while making their choice.

His position is significant because the contest has created an unusual situation within the broader opposition alliance, with candidates from allied parties competing against each other in some constituencies.

Congress Did Not Give Rathod a Ticket From Tirhut Teachers’ Seat

The immediate background to Rathod’s independent candidature was the Congress’s announcement of its candidates for the Bihar Legislative Council elections.

The party announced candidates for five seats, but did not field a candidate from the Tirhut Teachers’ constituency. Rathod had already been preparing to contest the seat and subsequently filed his nomination as an independent candidate.

The development has resulted in a contest between Rathod and the CPI’s Sanjay Kumar Singh, who is the sitting MLC from the constituency and has been nominated again by the Left party.

This means the election is not only about the contest between individual candidates but also reflects the complicated seat-level dynamics among opposition parties.

Grand Alliance Faces Another Contest Between Allies

The Tirhut Teachers’ seat is one of several constituencies where differences among opposition alliance partners have become visible during the Legislative Council election process.

The CPI is part of the broader opposition grouping, and its candidate Sanjay Kumar Singh is seeking another term from Tirhut Teachers. Rathod, meanwhile, is contesting as an independent after not receiving a Congress ticket.

The situation illustrates how seat-level electoral calculations can create competition even among parties that otherwise cooperate politically.

Similar contests have emerged elsewhere in the Bihar MLC election process, with Congress and RJD also facing direct contests in multiple constituencies.

Who Is Ajay Kumar Paswan?

Ajay Kumar Paswan has now been given the responsibility of leading the Bihar Congress’s media and publicity machinery.

The source report states that Paswan is originally associated with Khijrasarai in Gaya district, while he was born and works in Phulwari Sharif, Patna. His father, Rampreet Paswan, had served as an MLA from Phulwari Sharif and was also associated with the Congress’s SC/ST organisation.

With his new responsibility, Paswan will have to coordinate the party’s communication strategy at a time when Bihar politics is witnessing intense electoral activity.

His role is expected to involve communicating the Congress’s position on government policies, political controversies, organisational programmes and election-related developments.

Why the Change Matters for Bihar Congress

The change in the media department comes at a politically important stage for the Bihar Congress.

The party is navigating the aftermath of the state assembly elections while also participating in the ongoing Legislative Council election process. At such a time, the media department becomes an important platform for communicating the party’s political messaging.

The appointment of a new media chief could therefore mark an effort to give the organisation a fresh communication approach.

Paswan will have to manage the party’s response to political developments while ensuring that Congress’s campaign, organisational activities and policy positions receive greater visibility.

Bihar MLC Elections 2026: What Is Happening?

The Bihar Legislative Council elections involve eight seats, comprising four Graduate constituencies and four Teachers’ constituencies.

The Election Commission has scheduled polling for October 23, 2026, while counting will take place on October 27, 2026. The nomination process began on September 29, with October 6 as the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny is scheduled for October 7, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until October 9.

The eight constituencies going to polls are:

• Patna Graduates

• Darbhanga Graduates

• Tirhut Graduates

• Kosi Graduates

• Patna Teachers

• Darbhanga Teachers

• Tirhut Teachers

• Saran Teachers

The terms of the existing members from these constituencies are due to expire on November 16, 2026.

Tirhut Teachers’ Contest Gains Importance

The Tirhut Teachers’ constituency is particularly noteworthy because of the contest involving Congress-linked leader Rajesh Rathod and CPI candidate Sanjay Kumar Singh.

Rathod’s decision to contest independently has created a direct electoral contest involving two leaders from parties that broadly operate within the same opposition alliance.

For Congress, the contest also comes at a time when the party has changed the leadership of its media department. Rathod’s removal and his independent candidature have consequently attracted attention within Bihar’s political circles.

However, Rathod has maintained that the organisational change was not a punishment for his independent candidature and described the transition as part of a predetermined organisational process.

What Happens Next?

With Ajay Kumar Paswan taking charge of the Bihar Congress Media and Publicity Department, the party’s communication strategy is now entering a new phase.

At the same time, Rajesh Rathod will focus on his independent campaign from the Tirhut Teachers’ constituency.

The upcoming MLC election will determine whether Rathod can retain influence in the constituency despite contesting outside the Congress ticket, while the Congress will also have to manage the wider political dynamics created by contests between alliance partners.

With polling scheduled for October 23 and counting on October 27, the coming weeks are likely to remain politically active across Bihar’s Graduate and Teachers’ constituencies.

For the Bihar Congress, the appointment of Ajay Paswan is therefore more than a routine organisational change: it places a new leader at the centre of the party’s media strategy during an important period of electoral and political activity.