The Congress party’s disappointing performance in Haryana’s 2024 Assembly elections has sparked both internal and external discussions about what went wrong. Kumari Selja, a Congress MP from Sirsa, was one of the first to voice her dismay. Selja described the election results as “extremely disappointing,” reflecting the sentiment of many party workers who had been hopeful for a comeback. According to the Election Commission, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 47 seats and was leading in one more, ensuring a third consecutive term, while Congress won 36 seats, also leading in one more.
Selja, who had ambitions to lead the state as Chief Minister if Congress had won, stressed the need for introspection within the party. “Our workers worked for so long, we went to villages with the message of Rahul Gandhi, but after the results, it looks like all their efforts have gone to waste,” she remarked. She emphasized that the party needs to reassess what went wrong, highlighting that such results should not have been possible, given the effort expended. Selja’s comments reflect a broader sentiment within Congress that a new approach is necessary.
One of the key reasons behind Congress’s defeat, as analysts point out, is the internal rift between prominent leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja. This rivalry significantly impacted the party’s chances. While Hooda, the party’s Jat leader, dominated the party’s strategy and candidate selection, many argue this alienated other significant voter blocs, including the Dalit community, which Selja represents. The Congress had heavily banked on Jat voters, but this strategy backfired as it did not sufficiently engage other groups, such as Dalits and non-Jat communities.
Factionalism in Congress was evident well before the elections. Hooda, a former Chief Minister, led the campaign with the support of the party’s high command. However, Selja and others in the anti-Hooda camp felt sidelined. Reports suggest that Selja’s frustrations ran deep, especially after her suggestions for candidate selections were largely ignored. Hooda managed to secure most of the party’s tickets for his loyalists, which intensified the internal division.
Moreover, Congress’s approach to electoral strategy may have also contributed to its loss. The party placed too much emphasis on the Jat community, which makes up around 28% of Haryana’s population, while neglecting other groups. Meanwhile, the BJP, under Nayab Singh Saini’s leadership, capitalized on a more inclusive approach, focusing on non-Jat and OBC communities. The BJP’s effective grassroots strategy, supported by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), helped it penetrate rural areas, which had traditionally been Congress strongholds.
Also read: J&K Election Results 2024: NC-Congress Alliance Wins 49 Seats; BJP Takes 29
Jairam Ramesh, Congress’s General Secretary in charge of communications, expressed his dissatisfaction with how the vote counting process unfolded. He raised concerns about a slowdown in updating the election trends on the Election Commission’s website. However, the Election Commission dismissed these allegations, stating that the vote counting was being conducted transparently and per the rules.
In the aftermath of the elections, Selja has hinted that Congress cannot continue with “business as usual” in Haryana. She believes the party high command needs to identify those responsible for the loss and rethink its strategy moving forward. With BJP now poised for a third term, Congress will need to address its internal divisions and recalibrate its outreach if it hopes to challenge the BJP in future elections.