Congress high command has gone for some significant changes in its strategy ahead of Haryana elections. This time, the Congress strategy in Haryana appears to be noticeably different. The party’s high command is opting for a less aggressive approach and the message is clear: the party is placing its trust on former Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda. From the ticket distribution to announcing seven guarantees, Hooda has become the central figure in the party’s campaign efforts.
Somehow, the absence of senior party leaders, such as MP Shailja and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala, during the release of manifesto yesterday has sparked speculation about potential discord within the party. Shailja’s silence is particularly concerning for the Congress. Notably, party leader Rahul Gandhi, who returned from America just two days ago, neither attended the event nor tweeted about the guarantees promised in the Congress manifesto, despite being present at 10 Janpath.
Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi, who was previously very active in elections in states like Himachal Pradesh, has remained absent from campaigning this time. Reports indicate she is currently in Shimla, while former Congress president Sonia Gandhi is in Chandigarh, where she is expected to participate in the manifesto release.
It seems that factionalism is at its peak in Haryana highlighting the need for Shailja and her supporters to unify the party. With Mayawati’s BSP and Chandrashekhar’s Azad Party actively trying to influence Dalit votes, the election landscape could shift to a Jat vs. non-Jat dynamic, putting what seems like an easy victory for Congress at risk. The party is in no position to take chances in Haryana. In the coming days, party president Kharge, along with Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, will work to align all leaders on a unified platform.
To improve coordination among leaders in Haryana, the party has appointed senior figures, including former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, party treasurer Ajay Maken, and senior Punjab leader Pratap Singh Bajwa, as observers. Despite these efforts, concerns about the internal dynamics of the Haryana Congress persist. However, recent reports suggest a possible shift in momentum in favour of the party. After the ticket distribution, the message has gone out that former CM Hooda had the last say. The message of giving more than 70 tickets out of 90 to Hooda supporters has once again given an opportunity to make the election a Jat vs non-Jat.
After this, an attempt was also made to influence the atmosphere by the statements made by some leaders in excitement. Although Bhupendra Hooda himself took charge and handled the situation, but things do not seem to be working out.