Opinion | Haryana: How Congress Lost A Sure-Shot Election Yet Again

The recent Haryana assembly elections will be remembered as one of the biggest upsets in India's political landscape. What was seen as a certain victory for the Indian National Congress (INC) turned into a stunning defeat. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had been predicted by many to lose, emerged victorious with a significant margin.

Once again, the Congress party managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, showcasing a pattern of underperformance even when the odds seemed to be in its favor. So, how did the Congress lose an election that appeared to be a surefire win? Let’s explore the five key reasons behind the BJP’s strategic victory and Congress’s devastating loss.

1. BJP's Expert Micro-Management

A major factor behind the BJP’s success in Haryana was its meticulous attention to detail and adaptability. When it became apparent that the party was facing significant challenges in the state, the BJP quickly took corrective action. The most notable change was the replacement of their long-serving Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, with Nayab Singh Saini. Khattar, after serving nine and a half years, was proving to be a liability, and his removal was a strategic move to mitigate the damage.

In the lead-up to the election, Khattar was effectively kept out of the campaign, with no posters or promotional material featuring him. This bold decision turned out to be a masterstroke for the BJP, reinforcing its adaptability and commitment to winning.

The BJP also worked diligently to consolidate its non-Jat votes. The Jat community, constituting over 20% of the state's population, had historically dominated Haryana’s politics. However, the BJP’s emphasis on appealing to other voter blocs, especially the OBC community, played a significant role in the outcome.

2. Congress's Overconfidence and Lack of Micro-Management

While the BJP worked at the micro-level, the Congress became a victim of overconfidence. The party seemed to believe that its victory was inevitable and took the electorate for granted. The lack of micro-management, especially in mobilizing voters and addressing grassroots issues, severely hurt the party’s chances.

The Congress has consistently failed to understand the importance of organizational strength and voter outreach on election day. In contrast, the BJP's finely-tuned electoral machinery ensured that every voter who could make a difference was mobilized and reached the polling booth. The Congress’s inability to do the same remains a key factor behind their repeated electoral failures.

3. Factionalism Within Congress

Another major issue for the Congress was the internal strife between its senior leaders, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja. The rivalry between the two was not just a personal battle but also a massive distraction to the party’s larger objectives. This internal discord within Congress significantly weakened its campaign.

Hooda, a dominant figure in Haryana's Jat politics, did not cooperate with Selja, a Dalit leader, even though their collaboration could have boosted the party’s performance. Worse still, Hooda’s refusal to ally with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), despite Rahul Gandhi’s efforts to push for one, sealed the Congress's fate. Although the AAP did not win any seats, it secured nearly 1.78% of the vote, which could have bolstered the opposition's numbers in a close race.

4. BJP’s Caste Strategy

The BJP’s success in Haryana was also due to its strategic handling of caste politics. While the Congress was over-reliant on the Jat and Dalit vote banks, the BJP effectively worked to consolidate non-Jat communities and OBCs. Appointing Saini as the Chief Minister sent a clear message to non-Jat voters that the BJP was serious about addressing their needs.

The Congress, on the other hand, made little effort to challenge this strategy, resulting in a lack of cohesion and a disorganized vote bank. The INLD-BSP alliance and Chandrashekhar Azad’s alignment with the JJP split the Dalit vote, further hurting the Congress’s chances.

5. Congress’s Inability to Connect with Younger Voters

The Congress’s reliance on older leaders like Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kamal Nath in Madhya Pradesh highlights another critical issue: the party’s inability to cultivate and empower younger leadership. Haryana’s electorate, much like the rest of India, is changing rapidly, and the Congress’s failure to adapt to this shift continues to hurt its prospects.

Hooda’s brand of old-world politics, once effective, no longer resonates with a younger and more aspirational voter base. If Congress wishes to compete with the Modi-Shah-led BJP in the future, it must look beyond its aging leadership and offer something fresh to voters who are looking for change and progress.

Conclusion

The Haryana elections of 2024 are yet another example of how Congress continues to falter, even when victory seems assured. The party’s failure to address factionalism, micro-manage its campaign, and adapt to changing voter dynamics ultimately led to its defeat. On the other hand, the BJP, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, once again demonstrated its formidable electoral strategy and killer instinct.

For Congress, the key takeaway from Haryana should be that overconfidence is its greatest enemy. It must invest in its organization, manage internal rivalries, and connect with voters on a deeper level if it wants to compete with the BJP’s relentless electoral machine.

As the Congress faces similar challenges in states like Madhya Pradesh and beyond, the question remains: will the party learn from its mistakes, or will it continue to lose elections that it should have won?

Reference From: www.ndtv.com