The fishing expedition, complete with traditional nets and barefoot empathy, marked Gandhi’s bid to connect with Bihar’s fishermen — a community battling floods, poverty, and neglect.
BY PC Bureau
November 2, 2025: In a move that has already made waves across social media and Bihar’s political circles, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, took a literal plunge into the heart of Bihar’s fishing communities on Sunday. Accompanied by Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani, fondly known as the “son of Mallah,” Gandhi jumped into a muddy village pond in Raghunathpur, on the outskirts of Begusarai, to join local fishermen in their traditional net-casting ritual.
The impromptu “fishing expedition” marked one of the most dramatic moments of Gandhi’s high-energy campaign for the Bihar Assembly elections — a carefully crafted attempt to connect with the Mallah and Nishad communities, whose votes can tilt the balance in the state’s riverine constituencies.
Begusarai — often called the “Leningrad of the East” for its rich legacy of leftist politics and industrial activism — has become a key testing ground for Gandhi’s populist brand of politics. Its ponds, canals, and Ganges tributaries sustain thousands of fishermen who struggle against floods, dwindling fish stocks, and exploitative markets.
READ: Manipur Audio Tape: Six Reasons Why It Should Be Sent to a Foreign Lab
READ: Bihar: Poll Eve Cash Handout Makes Mockerty of Code
From the Stage to the Pond
After addressing a rally in the town, Gandhi abandoned the podium for the pond, choosing to wade into what one aide called “the real Bihar.” Eyewitnesses described the scene as electric. Under a pale November sun, Sahani stripped to his vest and hurled a traditional net into the chest-deep water, hauling in a modest catch of rohu and katla. “Look at this beauty!” he shouted, as cheers erupted from the crowd.
Gandhi, clad in his trademark white T-shirt and khaki trousers, soon joined in — splashing through the brown water alongside local fishermen. “Rahul Gandhi zindabad!” echoed through the air as hundreds of villagers, many women in bright saris balancing pots on their heads, watched and filmed the moment. Congress MP Kanhaiya Kumar, a Begusarai native, helped steady the small boat, grinning broadly.
नेता विपक्ष श्री @RahulGandhi ने बेगूसराय में मछुआरा समुदाय से मुलाकात की और उनकी समस्याओं पर चर्चा की।
इस दौरान VIP पार्टी के अध्यक्ष मुकेश सहनी जी भी मौजूद रहे।
हम बिहार के मछुआरा समुदाय के सम्मान और उनके अधिकारों के लिए हर कदम पर साथ खड़े हैं।
📍 बिहार pic.twitter.com/RYbgDAZH66
— Congress (@INCIndia) November 2, 2025
A Message Beneath the Surface
The brief swim — barely 50 meters — carried deeper symbolism. “If you want to understand the people, you must live their lives, even for a few moments,” Gandhi later said. On X (formerly Twitter), he posted a short clip of the event, which quickly crossed a million views. “From shrinking fish stocks to the three-month fishing ban that leaves families hungry — these are the real stories of Bihar’s economy. The rivers, ponds, and the people who live by them deserve better,” he wrote.
Sahani, drenched and smiling, lauded Gandhi’s gesture: “Rahul ji didn’t just dip a toe — he swam with us, net in hand. This is what leadership looks like: not from air-conditioned SUVs but from the muddy heart of our villages.”
The alliance has promised a ₹5,000 monthly aid scheme for fishermen during the lean season and insurance coverage for those dependent on pisciculture.
Politics and Optics
Predictably, BJP leaders dismissed the episode as theatrics. “From Italian pasta to Bihar’s ponds — Rahul baba’s adventures never cease,” quipped a party spokesperson, calling the event a “photo-op with fish.”
But for villagers like Ramu Mallah, 52, who lost his nets in last year’s floods, the gesture carried weight. “He listened to our pain. For the first time, a big leader got his hands dirty with us,” he said, shaking Gandhi’s hand by the water’s edge.
After rinsing off under a village hand pump, Gandhi headed to a rally in Khagaria, weaving the pond anecdote into a fiery speech. “The NDA has flooded Bihar with corporate control,” he thundered. “We will make Bihar a state where every fisherman casts his net without fear.”
Ripples in Bihar’s Poll Waters
As Bihar gears up for elections beginning November 15, Gandhi’s muddy plunge may prove to be more than a stunt. It showcased a leader willing to shed formality — quite literally — to connect with ordinary people.
In Raghunathpur, where the pond’s ripples are still settling, one sentiment endures: Rahul Gandhi didn’t just cast a net — he may have caught a powerful political current.
