Patna, May 5 Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh has reacted to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s emphatic victory in West Bengal, saying that in a democracy, the people's mandate is final and must be respected.
Speaking to reporters in Patna on Tuesday, the Congress leader said there is little merit in lamenting the results after the government has already been formed.
While acknowledging the Assembly poll outcome, Singh expressed satisfaction over the Congress' modest gains, noting that the party, which previously had no representation in the state, has now secured two seats in West Bengal.
He stressed that the current political climate demands stronger Opposition unity, urging all "anti-BJP parties" to come together on a common platform.
In a pointed remark aimed at regional parties, Singh cautioned that no single party -- including that of Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress -- can defeat the BJP alone.
He warned that regional parties risk political marginalisation if they fail to recognise the need for collective action against a dominant national force.
Responding to criticism about Congress' electoral struggles, Singh countered by citing Kerala, where he claimed the Congress has demonstrated its strength by significantly weakening the Opposition.
Turning to Bihar politics, the Congress leader took a swipe at the upcoming Cabinet expansion scheduled for May 7.
He expressed hope that the new Bihar Ministers would be competent and responsive to public expectations but voiced serious concern over the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state.
He said restoring public confidence and ensuring transparent governance should be the top priorities of the new Cabinet in Bihar.
Raising the issue of repeated bridge collapses, Singh questioned the Bihar government's functioning and oversight mechanisms.
Referring to the Vikramshila Setu incident, he remarked that such failures are no longer surprising in Bihar.
He alleged that contracts are repeatedly being awarded to the same contractor despite previous projects being marred by alleged corruption and structural failures.
Concluding his remarks, Singh demanded a high-level probe into corruption in infrastructure projects.
He urged the Bihar government to fix accountability, take strict action against erring contractors and officials, and ensure quality in public works.
Without these corrective steps, he warned, claims of development in Bihar would remain confined to paper.
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