Overconfidence, internal politics, effects of anti-incumbency did Congress in, say experts
Is dismal performance in the Assembly polls an eye opener for the Congress? Will this grand old party learn any lesson from it? Would any change be brought to strengthen the Congress’s cadre at the grassroots level? Will the third historical win of the BJP in a row turn Haryana into its stronghold like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh?
These are some of the relevant questions being discussed these days among political analysts, observers and those keeping interest in politics.
The defeat of the Congress in the Assembly polls has indeed disheartened its leaders and workers but the party leadership at the Centre and in the state are also constantly brainstorming at various levels to look for reasons for this disappointing performance.
Even, political analysts are also trying to look for those factors responsible for keeping the Congress out of power and helpful in making the BJP win again in such a state where farmers, wrestlers, employees and some other sections of society seemed to be unhappy with the regime.
‘Congress failed to cash in on BJP’s weakness’
The rising unemployment, deteriorating law and order, Agniveer and inflation were some of the major issues which were not only adversely affecting the people but also making everyone feel that public resentment would translate into votes but the Congress failed to make the most of it. — Prof SS Chahar, Director, Centre for Haryana Studies, Rohtak
Prof SS Chahar, Director, Centre for Haryana Studies, Rohtak, said the BJP was, without any doubt, facing the effects of anti-incumbency before the elections, but the Congress failed to cash in on it.
“The rising unemployment, deteriorating law and order, Agniveer and inflation were some of the major issues which were not only adversely affecting the people but also making everyone feel that public resentment would translate into votes but the Congress failed to make the most of it as it was entangled in internal conflicts, lack of coordination, overconfidence throughout the elections and wrong distribution of tickets on the behest of the high command. Even, the absence of organisational structure also went against the Congress while the strong cadre of the BJP proved to be a trump card for it ,” Chahar opined.
Ashok Kumar, a resident, said in the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress got unexpected support from the Dalits across the country and it proved instrumental not only in thwarting the BJP from getting the mandate at the Centre, but also wresting five seats from it in Haryana. In the Assembly polls, the Congress garnered less Dalit votes than the Lok Sabha elections likely due to the absence of Kumari Selja from the election campaign for many days and her selective comments regarding distribution of tickets, he claimed.
“Polarisation of voters on caste lines did not happen in the Lok Sabha polls and a similar likelihood was being expressed in the Assembly polls as well. However, the BJP tried to boost this issue by centeralising its poll campaign on the father-son (Hooda-Deepender) duo but after the Selja’s episode, polarisation was seen not only among the Dalits but also in non-Jat voters, for which the Congress paid the price,” said Vijay Yadav, a businessman from Kosli (Rewari).
Jitendra Bhardwaj, a political analyst, said by winning the third Assembly polls consecutively, the BJP again proved that it did not give up even in adverse conditions.
“The BJP’s cadre toiled hard at the booth level, did micro-management on all seats, top brasses carried out poll campaigns extensively and executed its strategies well in the elections that led to their party’s victory with the highest seats in the state. If the Congress does not rectify its shortcomings in future, Haryana may also figure in the category of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, which is considered strongholds of the saffron party,” he added.
Dharmendra Singh of Jhajjar said due to towering political stature, former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda was the best bet of the Congress for the chief ministerial post in the Assembly polls, so the BJP leaders focused on attacking him and his son Deepender Hooda in every poll meeting . “The BJP’s strategy worked to bear fruits as the electors voted on caste lines in the elections to defeat the Congress in the polls but despite all, Hooda still remains at the helm in state politics,” he claimed.
