PATNA, Jan. 22 -- The Congress is in crisis management mode to keep its MLAs intact from poaching, amidst open declarations by rival parties about their mass desertion after Makar Sankranti. With speculation swirling that the ruling NDA is actively courting the party's legislators, the All India Congress Committee has called all Bihar Congress MLAs, MPs and state unit chief Rajesh Ram to New Delhi on January 23. The meeting will see them face Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. Sources in the party say the gathering is meant to gauge the lawmakers' loyalty and address any grievances, especially with the Bihar assembly's budget session starting from February 2. One-to-one conversations are likely, insiders add, as the leadership tries to shore up unity. Over two months after state polls, Congress still hasn't named a leader for its legislature party in the 243-member House. The delay stands out-after the 2020 elections, Ajeet Sharma was picked quickly, and in 2015 it was Sadanand Singh, both before the new government sought a trust vote. This time, the high command seems cautious. The party won just six seats, its lowest ever in Bihar and down sharply from 19 in 2020. Only a couple of the six are seen as firmly rooted in party ideology. Araria's Abidur Rahman is viewed as committed but his visual impairment is a practical issue for the CLP leader's role. Abhishek Ranjan from Chanpatia came up through NSUI but his ties to senior BJP leaders have fuelled doubts. Manohar Prasad Singh of Manihari joined via a 2015 seat-sharing deal with JD(U) and has stayed put. Quamrul Hoda from Kishanganj defected from AIMIM before the polls. Surendra Prasad Kushwaha (Valmiki Nagar) and Manoj Biswas (Forbesganj) are newer faces still building trust....