Haryana Elections Loss Cost Congress Its Dignity? Media Raps Party; Major Leaders, Alliance Partners Vent Out

In the aftermath of Congress’ defeat in the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections, several leaders within the party, along with their allies, have spoken out, providing varied perspectives on the reasons for the loss and what it means for the party’s future.

Rahul Gandhi acknowledged the unexpected outcome, stating that Congress is “analysing the results” and will communicate with the Election Commission regarding complaints from various constituencies. The party had anticipated a much better performance based on early trends and anti-incumbency sentiment against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, the BJP surged ahead, clinching 48 seats, while Congress secured only 37. Gandhi’s reflective statement also touched upon Congress’ success in Jammu and Kashmir, where the party, in alliance with the National Conference, was leading​.

Bhupinder Hooda’s reaction:

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a more combative stance, questioning the transparency of the counting process and alleging delays in updating election results. These claims were dismissed by the Election Commission, which defended the integrity of the process. Ramesh’s comments underscore the party’s dissatisfaction with the way the vote tallying was handled, though no further formal objections were made after the Commission’s response​.

Jairam Ramesh’s reaction:

ECI response to Party chief, Mallikarjun Kharge’s letter:

Meanwhile, Kumari Selja, a senior Congress leader, expressed deep disappointment with the results, particularly pointing to internal discord within the party. Selja had previously raised concerns about how Congress had handled candidate selection, suggesting that the marginalisation of Dalit leaders had a detrimental impact on the party’s outreach to key voter groups. Her comments reflected broader concerns about factionalism, especially regarding the dominance of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, which alienated certain sections of the party​.

Selja’s reaction:

Deepender Hooda’s reaction:

From Congress’ allies, the Shiv Sena (UBT) was critical of the party’s decision to contest the elections independently. Sanjay Raut emphasised that Congress’ overconfidence led to its downfall, as it did not form alliances with regional parties like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) or Samajwadi Party. Raut remarked that the party “turned a winning match into a loss” by not partnering with other like-minded parties, which could have bolstered its chances against the BJP’s formidable organisational structure​.

Priyanka Chaturvedi, another leader from Shiv Sena (UBT), echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Congress needs to seriously rethink its strategy in states where it faces a direct fight with the BJP. Chaturvedi noted that while the party performed well in Jammu and Kashmir through alliance politics, its reluctance to replicate this in Haryana cost it dearly​.

WATCH:

The “jalebi” meme, circulating widely following Congress’ unexpected defeat in the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections, stems from a playful jab at Rahul Gandhi. During his election campaign in Haryana, Gandhi made a lighthearted comment about eating jalebis to celebrate the party’s anticipated victory. However, when the BJP clinched the win, social media exploded with memes, mocking the Congress leader for his premature celebrations. Many Twitter users shared images and posts with captions like “Jalebi time for the BJP” or “Congress’ jalebi dreams,” turning what was meant to be a moment of optimism into a viral symbol of irony. The meme’s popularity highlights the internet’s tendency to latch onto humorous or ironic statements, often using them to underline political setbacks.

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The reactions from within Congress and from its allies paint a picture of a party grappling with internal challenges, missed opportunities, and strategic missteps. Factionalism, overconfidence, and failure to form critical alliances were all identified as key reasons for the loss. As Congress prepares for upcoming state elections, these critiques serve as a stark reminder of the need for a unified front and better collaboration with regional parties if it hopes to challenge the BJP’s electoral dominance.