PATNA, Oct. 20 -- With state elections weeks away, the Congress party in Bihar is imploding under allegations of ticket selling, favouritism and sabotage, exposing deep rifts that could derail its campaign. Accusations of corruption in ticket distribution and delays in seat sharing with Mahagathbandhan allies, particularly the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), have sparked public outcries, resignations and violent protests, threatening the party's fragile revival in a state where it won just 19 seats in 2020. At the heart of the storm is AICC Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, accused of auctioning nominations to wealthy outsiders in collusion with Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan and Purnea MP Pappu Yadav. On October 18, disgruntled leaders, including Khagaria MLA Chatrapati Yadav, former MLA Banty Chaudhary and BPCC spokesperson Anand Madhab, held a press conference in Patna, alleging that loyalists were sidelined for candidates with "deep pockets but shallow ideology." In Kasba (Purnea), sitting MLA Afaq Alam, denied a ticket in favour of Mohammad Irfan Alam, a Pappu Yadav aide, claimed a deal worth crores was struck, tarnishing the party's image. "I refused to pay the bribe demanded," Alam charged, urging AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to probe the scandal. A leaked audio of Alam discussing the issue with BPCC president Rajesh Ram-unverified but widely circulated-further fuelled claims of back room deals. Repeated attempts made to seek comments from AICC in-charge Allavaru, BPCC chief Ram and CLP leader Khan could not be realised. Madhab, who resigned citing systemic rot, wrote to Kharge decrying a "Mera Admi, Tera Admi" culture that rewards sycophants over merit. "Corporate interests like Adani and Ambani eclipse performance," he alleged, warning that the party risked single-digit seats due to prioritising greed over principles. His exit, alongside grievances from replaced incumbents like Khagaria MLA Chhatrapati Yadav and former MLA Gajanand Shahi, underscores a broader betrayal of Rahul Gandhi's Voter Adhikar Yatra, a July campaign that drew crowds with promises of electoral reform and anti-corruption. Tensions escalated when angry Bikram workers ambushed Allavaru, Khan and Ram at Patna airport, chanting against "ticket corruption", a week ago. Viral videos of Khan fleeing the melee amplified the chaos. The leaders alleged that turncoats were being awarded with tickets in Bikram and in Jale at the expense of dedicated party workers at the behest of leaders having their roots in the RJD. Pappu Yadav, who rejoined Congress this year, dismissed the allegations as "baseless" in a heated rebuttal, portraying himself as a grassroots leader targeted by rivals fearing a resurgent Congress. He accused the RJD of orchestrating the turmoil to curb Congress's growth, pointing to their delayed seat-sharing talks and fielding "billionaire cronies" on Congress-allotted seats. "Tejashwi Yadav felt dwarfed by Rahul ji's popularity during the yatra, so they're clipping our wings," Yadav claimed, referencing the RJD's rival Bihar Adhikar Yatra as a "cheap imitation." The seat sharing muddle has deepened the crisis. With nominations closing soon for the 243-seat assembly, the Mahagathbandhan's pact remains unresolved, leaving candidates in limbo. RJD's dual nominations in Alamnagar and "friendly fights" in seven constituencies signal distrust, while their withdrawal of Gaura-Bauram's candidate, only for ally Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) to field another, suggests deliberate sabotage.Insiders allege the RJD, grappling with internal rebellions and Lalu Prasad's health issues, views a strengthened Congress as a threat. "They'd rather puppeteer a weak ally than face Rahul's star power," a Seemanchal leader said anonymously. These internal clashes are pitting Congress against its own allies across multiple seats, risking vote splits that could benefit the NDA. In Vaishali, Congress's Sanjeev Kumar faces RJD's Ajay Kushwaha; in Kutumba (SC), BPCC chief Rajesh Ram contends with RJD's Suresh Paswan; and in Lalganj, RJD's Shivani Shukla opposes Congress's nominee. Other flashpoints include Warsaliganj, Sikandra, Tarapur (RJD vs. VIP), Bachhwara (Congress vs. CPI's Awadhesh Rai), Rajapakar (Congress vs. CPI's Mohit Paswan), and Rosera (Congress vs. CPI's Laxman Paswan). Compounding grievances, Muslims, 17.7% of Bihar's population, feel marginalised with minimal representation, while RJD leaders allegedly securing Congress tickets blur alliance lines. A Congress leader from Mithilanchal Kishore Kumar Jha accused a "status quo cabal" of stifling revival, ensuring Congress remains a "pillion rider" to the RJD. "Weak state leadership and an inexperienced state in-charge, lacking understanding of Bihar's politics, have led to the party's humiliation. Despite strong grassroots support for Congress and Rahul Gandhi three months ago, the leadership's arbitrary decisions and failure to heed warnings about RJD's deceitful tactics resulted in a disastrous alliance, with no seats contested in districts like Bhabua, Saran, Siwan, Ara and Sheohar, leaving party workers angry and disengaged," added Jha. Muktinath Upadhyay, a former BPCC spokesman, lamented squandered momentum due to "inexperienced handlers unfamiliar with Bihar's cutthroat politics." "Our dependence on the RJD blinded us; we didn't cultivate the yatra's tempo independently." Upadhyay said, adding that an independent run by the Congress would have catapulted the party in a better position in the assembly. The BJP-JD(U) alliance, led by Nitish Kumar, has seized on the "opposition tamasha," mocking Congress's disarray. With AICC's silence deafening, whispers of a high-level intervention grow, but time is short. The yatra's promise of change, which briefly rekindled hope, now risks being overshadowed by a ticket tamasha that could hand Bihar to the ruling alliance. As posters of unvetted candidates dot Patna, Congress's faithful await a reckoning-before the ballots seal their fate....