Ruling BJP has created history by scoring a hat-trick victory in Haryana. What’s interesting about Haryana verdict is, the final results were stark opposite of exit poll predictions and general perception in media and social media.
While several election surveys forecast a thumping victory for Congress denoting a swing, Haryana public reposed their faith once again in BJP. However there are lessons for both Congress and BJP from the Haryana election results. We are bringing you five takeaways from Haryana Assembly results:
1. Congress has a long way to go:
Haryana Assembly results have given a clear message that Opposition Congress party, which got a new lease of life with 2024 Loksabha results, has still a long way to go, if it has to overthrow BJP from the power at Centre. The fact that BJP could come back to power for the third time, even overcoming anti-incumbency in Haryana, proves that people are yet to consider Congress as better alternative than BJP.
That means Congress, the main opposition party, has to come up with seriously good work, to win over voters to their fold. Peoples agitations, newer economic and social models are needed to reach out to the people.
2. Congress culture of infighting has to be reined in:
One major shortcoming of Congress election strategy and campaign for Haryana is the open feud between senior leaders Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja. The differences between the two key leaders were so serious that both leaders were allegedly not even on speaking terms.
As Bhupinder Singh Hooda is a powerful regional satrap hailing from Jat community, Congress High Command, gave him full powers. This did not go down well with Kumari Selja, a Dalit MP. While Hooda Vs Selja rivalry is out in the open, more infighting among Haryana Congress leaders, led to party’s poor performance in the crucial Assembly polls.
3. ‘Brand Modi’ is still mightier than ‘Brand Rahul’
Rahul Gandhi’s image got a complete transformation after ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. Even his leadership got strengthened with Congress and its allies improved performance in Loksabha polls.
Though Congress is far from forming a Government at Centre, Rahul Gandhi’s agitations and protests have ensured that PM Modi-led BJP fell short of majority mark in Loksabha, a far cry from its ‘Abki baar 400 par’ slogan.
All these developments led to a popular belief that Rahul Gandhi has arrived. So, Congress party presented the Haryana battle as ‘Rahul’ Vs ‘Modi’ fight, with Rahul Gandhi leading the campaign from front and even won hearts of Haryana people from all sections. But finally only votes and seats matter in a electoral democracy. Thus Haryana verdict has proved that ‘Brand Rahul’ needs to get even bigger and better to trounce the mighty Modi.
4. Focus needed on Congress-ruled states:
Grand old party is in power in Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh states. If it has to rebuild its reputation as better governance provider and welfare oriented party, then coming up with exemplary accomplishments in the states ruled by it is the only option. So Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi should focus on delivering good governance in the states ruled by Congress.
Also reining in on corruption and indiscipline in states like Karnataka and Telangana is crucial, if grand old party has to emerge as a better alternative to BJP. We all saw how PM Modi attacked Congress in Haryana Assembly campaign, by highlighting Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s involvement in a land scam.
5. Good governance and results need of the hour:
Not just Congress, there are lessons to be learnt even by PM Modi’s BJP from Haryana verdict. Loksabha 2024 polls were a wake up call for PM Modi. Indian janata has given a clear verdict that they are ready to replace PM Modi, if he doesn’t deliver. That message has been echoed even during Haryana Assembly campaign.
BJP might have won. But it is clear that infighting in Congress, division of anti-government vote between Congress and regional parties has helped BJP.
Another important fact is, BJP might have got much ahead in seat count, but when it comes to vote share it is on par with Congress in Haryana polls. While BJP got 39.90 percent vote share, Congress earned 39.05 percent votes. So, it’s better if PM Modi Sarkar focuses on delivering results through good governance rather than make merry.
Dnr
