Pre-poll CM tussle, poor strategy to blame for Congress loss: Capt Yadav

As Congress leaders in Haryana grapple with a surprising defeat in the Assembly elections, blame games have begun, with the party’s OBC cell chairman and former minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav leading the charge. Yadav has attributed the pre-election internal tussle over the Chief Minister’s position as a key reason for the Congress’s debacle.

“Tussle in Haryana Congress for becoming CM before getting the people’s mandate was a big blunder,” Yadav posted on X.

Known for being outspoken about the party’s ticket distribution and alleged appeasement of former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Yadav took to X to outline reasons for the defeat, particularly in the Ahirwal region.

Mamman Khan should apologise

Mamman Khan should apologise for his offensive and communal statement made during the election campaign for a particular community. —Captain Ajay Singh Yadav, Cong leader

Named no community

Whom should I apologise to? I named no community. Rather than pointing fingers at others, people should introspect on their own mistakes. —Mamman Khan, Ferozepur Jhirka MLA

Yadav’s son, Chiranjiv Rao, who was an MLA in the previous term, lost from their home turf of Rewari by a margin of around 28,000 votes. Yadav blamed the “toothlessness” of the OBC cell and the lack of regional representation in key party bodies such as the Congress Working Committee (CWC), AICC general secretaries, and the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) as contributing factors.

“The party should introspect on its failure in southern Haryana, especially in Gurugram, Rewari, Mahendragarh, and Faridabad, where it won just one seat. Ahirwal has no representation in CWC, CEC, AICC general secretaries, or even in HPCC. Chairman AICC OBC is an eyewash and toothless,” Yadav said.

It is worth noting that as OBC cell chairman, Yadav had provided the party high command with a list of winnable candidates for all 90 seats, with special recommendations for OBC seats. Sources claim that the majority of his recommendations were rejected by the party, and Yadav holds the wrong selection of candidates and poor campaign strategy, including ignoring key state leaders, as reasons for the loss.

Yadav has also stirred controversy by targeting fellow Congressman and Ferozepur Jhirka MLA Mamman Khan, accusing him of ruining the party’s prospects with alleged communal speeches.

“Mamman Khan, MLA Ferozepur Zirka, should apologise for his offensive and communal statement made during the election campaign for a particular community,” Yadav wrote on X.

This post has caused a major stir within the party, with Khan retaliating, saying: “Whom should I apologise to? I named no community. I generally said those who harassed and mistreated Meos will be punished, and it was communalised by the BJP. I have got public mandate and won with a record margin of around 98,000 votes. Rather than pointing fingers at others, people should introspect on their own mistakes, which led to the public not trusting them.”