Cong to contest Bihar polls on its own: Rahul

With an eye on the assembly elections due this year end, All India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi set out on a tour of Bihar on Monday and said the Congress will go it alone like the party did for Lok Sabha polls in the National Democratic Alliance-ruled state.

"Congress workers will fight for the rights of the people without fear and bring change in Bihar. Congress will contest on its own," said Gandhi at Bettiah.

Rahul is on a two-day visit to Bihar widely dubbed as an exercise to test the waters. In an attempt to shore up his party's dwindling political fortunes in the state, the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family wooed the youth during his meetings.

Bihar was not developing because youths were not entering politics, he said.

"Only if youths join politics can there be proper development in Bihar," he told students of the Lalit Narayan Mitihila University at Darbhanga.

Stating that youths across the country were looking to the Congress, Gandhi said only those who fought for the genuine rights of the people would be given party tickets.

Gandhi arrived in West Champaran district and drove to Bhitharwa Ashram from where Mahatma Gandhi had launched the historic Satyagraha movement in 1917.

Talking to party workers in Champaran, Rahul said there is a need to function with a difference and strengthen the party in view of the coming elections, party sources said.

At the meeting, which was out of bounds for media, party sources quoted Rahul as saying that Congress could not win elections in Bihar earlier because it did not go to the public and win their trust.

A number of party workers also reportedly told Gandhi that Congress suffered in the state due to its past alliance with Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal.