The Congress, in a surprising turn of events, lost the Haryana assembly elections on Tuesday despite taking a comfortable lead initially. The setback has once again brought in criticism for the Grand Old Party, with even allies joining the chorus.
A scathing editorial published in Saamana, the mouthpiece of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) by party leader Sanjay Raut, took direct aim at the Congress, accusing them of squandering what should have been a clear victory.
Saamana highlighted how Congress had become overconfident following its impressive performance in the general elections. This confidence had fuelled aggressive posturing by Congress leaders in Maharashtra, particularly in their seat-sharing negotiations with Shiv Sena (UBT) for the upcoming state elections. However, the editorial noted that the recent Haryana defeat serves as a reminder of the party’s recurring mismanagement and internal discord.
“Congress knows how to turn a won innings into a loss,” the editorial said, underscoring the party’s failure to convert public dissatisfaction with the ruling BJP into a clear electoral advantage.
The piece delved into the reasons behind Congress’ poor show, primarily attributing it to internal leadership struggles. Haryana Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda was singled out for his dominant role in the party’s candidate-selection process, which reportedly sidelined other key leaders such as Kumari Selja. This infighting, according to the editorial, played a critical role in weakening Congress’ organisational strength on the ground, leading to a fractured campaign. The editorial also drew parallels between the internal disarray of Congress in Haryana and its inability to capitalise on the anti-BJP sentiment prevalent in the state.
Despite a strong anti-BJP wave in Haryana, driven by factors like the farmers’ protests and public outrage over the mistreatment of female wrestlers such as Vinesh Phogat, Congress failed to channel this discontent effectively. The BJP, on the other hand, managed to regroup and win due to its strong grassroots organisation and well-planned strategy. Raut’s editorial noted how the BJP’s organisational discipline, combined with its ability to exploit Congress’s weaknesses, ensured their success.
Further, the Saamana piece slammed Congress’s refusal to build alliances with key regional players such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Raut criticised the party for wanting to go solo in Haryana, thereby alienating potential allies and ultimately costing them the election. In contrast, he pointed out the success of the INDIA bloc in Jammu & Kashmir, where a united opposition was able to defeat the BJP.
Looking ahead, the Saamana editorial stressed that Congress must take these lessons to heart, especially with the crucial Maharashtra assembly elections on the horizon. The article concluded by warning that the leadership should be mindful of the Haryana results and their implications, as internal disarray and overconfidence could undermine their prospects in Maharashtra as well. “The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is poised for victory, but Congress needs to avoid repeating its mistakes,” it concluded.
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