The confrontation began when a video surfaced showing individuals allegedly insulting the prime minister and his mother during a Congress-led "Voter Adhikar Yatra" rally in Darbhanga. The ruling party accused those remarks of crossing all boundaries, and its workers staged a protest at the Congress office in Patna, where the situation quickly escalated into violence.
Clashes erupted as both sides traded blows, wielding flags and sticks; police presence intensified and eventually brought the fracas under control. Multiple injuries were reported, though exact numbers remain unconfirmed.
Rahul Gandhi condemned the violence, invoking Gandhian ethos by declaring that “truth and non‑violence will prevail, untruth and violence cannot stand before them,” and adding, “Beat and break, as much as you want… we will continue to protect truth and the Constitution. Satyamev Jayate.” His remarks underscored a commitment to non‑violent principles despite the turmoil surrounding his party’s campaign.
Congress leaders asserted that the party was not complicit in the abusive content of the video. They suggested the BJP was weaponising the uproar to derail their campaign’s momentum. The party emphasised that such language ran counter to its values.
BJP leaders demanded accountability, insisting that Rahul Gandhi issue an apology. K. V. Nitin Nabin, among others, framed the incident as a deeply affronting act that necessitated retaliation. The Bihar State Women Commission and other allied voices also sought punitive measures.
Meanwhile, the ruling party labelled Congress’s denial as disingenuous. It noted that FIRs had already been filed and arrests made in Darbhanga against individuals allegedly involved in the derogatory comments. The protest and subsequent clash in Patna were described by some as orchestrated to tarnish the image of the Opposition’s campaign and dilute its rising popularity.
This episode shines light on the heightened political temperature in the run-up to the Bihar Assembly elections—from the content of political rhetoric to the response tactics of opposing parties. Emotions on the ground, already stirred by charged messaging and viral visuals, were further inflamed by the physical confrontations in the state capital.