Haryana Election Results 2024: After the Congress unexpected defeat in the Haryana Assembly elections, the partys allies have not held back in their criticism. With the Maharashtra election on the horizon, Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena, in an editorial published in Saamana, has urged the Congress to address its grassroots weaknesses. The editorial emphasized the need for a stronger organization and more effective strategy, pointing to the BJPs success as a benchmark.Allies harsh review of Congress performanceThe Congress, which had defied exit poll predictions to lose in Haryana, has been chastised by its allies. Shiv Senas editorial particularly highlighted the partys failure to coordinate with other potential alliance partners, such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and its inability to rein in local leaders disobedience.According to the Saamana, Congress turned a winning innings into a defeat. This view was echoed by other allies, including Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress, which criticized Congress leadership of the INDIA bloc.Trinamool MP Saket Gokhale didnt mince words, targeting the Congress reluctance to accommodate regional parties in seat-sharing. This attitude leads to electoral losses, Gokhale remarked, implying that Congress expects regional parties to support it in states where its struggling, but refuses to reciprocate when its on the front foot.Missed alliances and overconfidenceThe Shiv Senas criticism was particularly stinging, focusing on the Congress overconfidence in Haryana. No INDIA gathbandhan in Haryana... Congress leaders were overconfident, said Sanjay Raut, Shiv Senas senior leader and a close ally of Uddhav Thackeray.He pointed out that had Congress struck alliances with parties like the Samajwadi Party or AAP, the results might have been different. Despite talks between Congress and AAP—pushed by Rahul Gandhi—state-level leaders like Bhupinder Singh Hooda reportedly resisted cooperation, which ultimately led to AAPs marginalization. The party secured less than 1.8% of the vote, an outcome that, while small, could have changed the Congress overall position.This always happens with Congress, Saamana noted, comparing the Haryana scenario to similar election failures in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The editorial lamented Congress reliance on veteran leaders like Kamal Nath and Bhupesh Baghel, whose prominence stifled opportunities for younger leaders, giving BJP the advantage.Did Bhupinder Singh Hooda led Congress to downfallThe Saamana didnt spare Congress Haryana strongman Bhupinder Singh Hooda either. The editorial suggested that Hoodas dominance within the state party machinery and his reluctance to work with fellow leaders, like Kumari Selja, a prominent Dalit leader, contributed to the partys downfall.The question has arisen... did ex-Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda sink the boat in Haryana the editorial asked. It accused Hooda of handpicking candidates loyal to him, sidelining leaders like Selja, and causing internal rifts that weakened the partys electoral prospects.The internal clash between Hooda and Selja, particularly regarding who would be Chief Minister if Congress won, was flagged as a major reason for the partys defeat. Kumari Selja had previously expressed concerns over the selection of candidates, believing they were chosen based on loyalty to Hooda rather than merit or broader party unity.Congress internal struggles lead to defeatAs the Congress heads into the Maharashtra election with its allies, these criticisms highlight significant internal challenges. The failure to form effective alliances, manage internal power struggles, and accommodate regional parties are being viewed as key reasons for the Haryana loss. Whether Congress can address these issues and improve its chances in Maharashtra remains to be seen.
