Five Reasons Why Congress Lost in Haryana Elections
The Congress party missed a unique opportunity to reclaim power in Haryana after a decade of BJP rule. Following a surprising performance in the Lok Sabha elections, where Congress won five out of ten seats, the party entered the Haryana Assembly elections with renewed optimism. Despite a significant increase in vote share, Congress failed to secure a majority. Here are five key reasons for Congress’s failure in this crucial election.
1. Overconfidence and Complacency:
The unexpected success in the Lok Sabha elections boosted Congress’s confidence, leading to complacency. Given the palpable anti-incumbency sentiment against the BJP’s decade-long rule, Congress assumed victory. Under the leadership of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, arbitrary decisions on ticket distribution sparked internal rebellions that weakened the party’s chances in several key constituencies.
2. Consolidation of Non-Jat Votes:
Congress heavily relied on consolidating Jat votes but failed to do so effectively. The BJP successfully consolidated non-Jat votes, particularly among OBCs. The party’s demand for a caste census was undermined by the BJP’s policy to raise the creamy layer income limit, leading to a shift in OBC support towards the BJP.
3. Split in Dalit Vote:
Congress expected to sweep the Dalit votes, which constitute over 20% of the electorate, but this did not materialize. The rise of two Dalit-centered coalitions—one of INLD with the BSP and the other of JJP with the Azad Samaj Party—fractured the anti-BJP Dalit vote. Additionally, sidelining prominent Dalit leader Kumari Shailja led to further disillusionment.
4. Infighting and Rifts:
Internal divisions significantly hampered Congress’s campaign. Hooda’s dominance alienated other factions, particularly supporters of Kumari Shailja and Randeep Singh Surjewala. Some insiders speculated that Hooda encouraged independent candidates to prevent Congress from winning a comfortable majority, inadvertently weakening the party.
5. Tight Contests:
Haryana elections have a history of tight contests. Despite Congress securing 40% of the vote share—a 12% increase from 2019—the split in anti-BJP votes among independents and smaller coalitions limited its ability to convert votes into seats.
