The Assembly poll results to the four States
in which Congress lost its governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and failed
to dislodge the BJP Government from Madhya Pradesh came as a huge
disappointment to the party leaders, with the party now out of power in a vast
swathe of the Hindi heartland.
The triumph in Telangana came as a big
solace for the party, as it consolidated its position in southern Bharat for
the big battle in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls which is only months away.
The loss in three States as well as its
victory in Telangana has many lessons for Congress, with the party now more
susceptible to pressure from other parties during any seat-sharing talks among
INDIA block members.
The results in four Assembly polls have
also exposed Congress’ vulnerabilities in a direct race with BJP. The Congress
had wrested Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka from the BJP earlier this year and
was hoping to do the same in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Party leaders anticipated some obstacles
in Rajasthan due to internal wrangling in the past and the State’s almost
three-decade tradition of not voting back the incumbent government.
But while the party did not face a rout
in Rajasthan largely due to last-minute welfare schemes of Chief Minister Ashok
Gehlot, its much-touted “guarantees” could not stop BJP from a historic mandate
in Madhya Pradesh.
Issues highlighted by Congress include
the demand for a caste survey repeatedly raised by party leader Rahul Gandhi
did not work with the people.
Kamal Nath, a septuagenarian and a
veteran of electoral battles who has won nine Lok Sabha polls, could not
energise the voters in Madhya Pradesh. Kamal Nath was the party’s face in the
polls and the party chief in the State.
In contrast, Congress appointed a young
A Revanth Reddy as State chief in Telangana in 2021.
After its victory in the Karnataka
polls, the Congress made good use of the anti-incumbency sentiment generated by
the BJP against the K Chandrashekar Rao Government and party ran a spirited
campaign under leadership of Revanth Reddy.
BJP has ruled Madhya Pradesh for 18 of
the past 20 years and has now won the big State two-thirds majority. Like
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh has turned into a BJP fortress with Congress almost out
of ideas to dislodge its competitor.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who
left the Congress in March 2020 with his “loyalist MLAs” to bring down the
15-month-old Kamal Nath Government has also delivered for the BJP.
In Chhattisgarh, the Congress relied
heavily on Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. However, allegations of “corruption”
against the State Government turned out to be reason behind its defeat. The BJP
also matched the Congress in pre-poll announcements.
Winning back Chhattisgarh would have
allowed Congress to highlight “good governance” model but the party has been
unable to win back-to-back Assembly polls in the past 10 years. The BJP has
successfully retained its governments in many States and has repeatedly talked
about people’s faith in its policies.
With demand for caste census failing to
be a draw in the Assembly polls as also its guarantees, the Congress will have
to reimagine its campaign themes for the 2024 battle.
With INDIA block parties scheduled to
resume their talks, a weakened Congress will also have lesser bargaining
position and parties such as Samajwadi Party, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT),
NCP and Trinamool Congress are likely to press their claims more strongly if
seat-sharing talks are held.
Samajwadi Party and AAP, who are part of
INIDIA block, had fielded candidates for the Assembly polls.
For the Opposition’s ambition to take on
the BJP together in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, much will depend on how the
resumed talks progress.
The BJP has been swift in course
correction after electoral setbacks and shows flexibility in its electoral
tactics.
Unlike Karnataka, where some Lingayat
leaders left the party over denial of tickets, the BJP accommodated around 14
leaders in their seventies in ticket distribution.
It gave tickets to Union Ministers and
senior party leaders in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to send a message of its
serious intent to win the polls.
On seats it was weak, BJP declared
candidates quite early.
The Congress retains a sizeable vote
share in many of the states it has lost polls over the past few elections and
the party leaders have talked of rebuilding the party.
The latest Assembly results have added
to the party’s challenges as it prepares for the 2024 battle. Uttar Pradesh and
Bihar, where the Congress is the fourth force, together account for 120 Lok
Sabha seats.
Rahul Gandhi said the party accepts the
mandate given by people of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and the
battle of ideology with BJP will continue.
“I am very thankful to the people of
Telangana – we will fulfil the promise of making Prajalu Telangana. Heartfelt
thanks to all the workers for their hard work and support,” the Wayanad MP
posted on X.
ANI
