Despite an assertive campaign, the Congress party faced a major setback, losing in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. This defeat signifies the party's diminishing influence in the crucial Hindi heartland, leaving it with a foothold only in Himachal Pradesh as it gears up for the pivotal 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The electoral setback has also weakened the Congress's position within the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, affecting its ability to negotiate for a larger share of seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
A party insider, preferring anonymity and still grappling with the shock of the triple-state loss, admitted that the results are a "significant setback." The party had been optimistic about forming a government in Chhattisgarh, given the absence of problems and apparent lack of anti-incumbency in the last five years.
Reflecting on the outcome in Madhya Pradesh, the party leader mentioned Rahul Gandhi's earlier prediction of securing 150 seats based on state reports, expressing surprise at the substantial reduction in seat numbers during the election.
Blaming the failure in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the party leader cited a lack of autonomy for strategist Sunil Kanugolu and his team, who were not given a free hand by leaders like Kamal Nath and Ashok Gehlot. In contrast, Kanugolu enjoyed independence in Telangana, allowing him to provide accurate reports and campaign suggestions, which were readily accepted by the state leadership.
The party leader emphasized that internal surveys by Kanugolu's team were acted upon in Telangana but ignored in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Differences arose in Rajasthan when Kanugolu's survey indicated sitting MLAs and Ministers facing challenges, contrary to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's stance.
With the Congress losing ground in the Hindi heartland, the party leader acknowledged the challenging road ahead for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The pause in INDIA bloc seat-sharing talks due to the Assembly polls will impact negotiations, given the Congress's limited or negligible presence in the Hindi heartland and North Indian states.
While the Congress had anticipated a return to power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and aimed to unseat the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, the actual results have dealt a blow. Despite the tough times, the party leader expressed determination to regroup and confront the BJP in the upcoming national elections in 2024.
The Congress had previously faced setbacks in Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh last year. In Bihar, it is part of the Grand Alliance, and in Jharkhand, the party is part of a coalition government with JMM.
(With Agency Inputs)
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