The Congress get together was inspired by its efficiency within the latest Lok Sabha elections in Haryana, the place it secured 5 out of ten seats and its vote share rose to 43.67% from 28.42% in 2019. This vital enhance has bolstered the get together’s optimism for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Nevertheless, inside factionalism and organizational challenges pose vital threats to its electoral prospects.
The Congress Occasion has proven a restoration trajectory, with its vote share climbing from 20.58% in 2014 to twenty-eight.08% in 2019. The rise helped it safe a further 5 Lok Sabha seats, which had been beforehand dominated by the BJP in 2019.
Regardless of its elevated vote share over the previous decade, the get together faces big challenges in preserving its base united.
organizational challenges
A key downside going through the Congress in Haryana is the dearth of a robust get together group. Senior leaders expressed issues over the problem at a gathering with the get together’s excessive command in June, however there was no consensus. A proposed record of nationwide get together workplace holders has been shelved, with factional disputes throughout the nationwide unit additionally attributed to a scarcity of cohesive group and impartial management.
Sources revealed that the get together excessive command has taken discover of those inside conflicts and empowered AICC chief Deepak Babaria to resolve the disciplinary points. Highlighting the stress, Kumari Selja criticized Bhupender Singh Hooda and Deepak Babaria. “There are lots of people who wish to go it alone. When somebody refuses to cooperate, I’ve nothing to say,” Kumari Selja mentioned in a latest interview, expressing disappointment with Hooda and Barbaria.
Hudaist affect
The allegations counsel that former chief minister and chief of the opposition in Parliament, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, was attempting to take management of the Congress get together’s state unit. Related accusations have been leveled towards AICC nationwide chief Deepak Babaria, who’s believed to be aligned with Hooda’s camp. Kumari Selja additionally voiced complaints about Babaria on the June assembly.
The get together’s determination to make Deepender Hooda, son of Bhupinder Hooda, lead the ‘Haryana Mange Hisab’ yatra is an additional manifestation of inside disharmony. The transfer seems to solidify Hooda’s affect and will make his faction extra distinguished within the pre-poll interval. Bhupinder Singh Hooda mentioned this could possibly be his final meeting election, a view he expressed at a latest assembly.
The Congress excessive command, whereas aiming to take care of get together unity, has been hesitant to announce a chief ministerial candidate forward of the polls. Nevertheless, the Hooda camp insisted on appointing Bhupinder Hooda because the get together consultant. This was resisted by rival factions led by Kumari Selja and Randeep Singh Surjewala. “So long as there’s a get together authorities, the chief minister will lead the elections. As per previous follow, after we had been in opposition, the get together by no means elected anybody,” Selja mentioned.
Election prospects and techniques
The Lok Sabha election outcomes mirrored two key shifts: the consolidation of the normal Congress get together’s voter base and renewed help from the Jat neighborhood, which makes up a big portion of Haryana’s citizens.
Jat vote share elevated from 21% in 2014 to 33% in 2019. The demand to declare Bhupinder Singh Hooda because the chief ministerial candidate stems from his recognition among the many Jat neighborhood, which has almost 25 per cent vote share.
Moreover, the Congress made inroads amongst Dalit voters, successful the reserved seats of Ambala and Sirsa. The shift highlights holes within the BJP’s technique and presents a possibility for the Congress.
Psychologists consider Congress has a very good likelihood of regaining energy. Moreover tapping into anti-incumbency elements, the Congress draft ballot manifesto additionally guarantees a month-to-month social safety pension of Rs 6,000, 300 models of free electrical energy, backed LPG cylinders, revival of the previous Pension Scheme (OPS) and 100 sq. yards of land to construct two-room homes for the poor.
To ease inside discontent, Rahul Gandhi outlined a system for ticket allocation based mostly on survey knowledge indicating candidates’ capability to win. The technique is geared toward addressing discontent and strengthening the get together’s place forward of the meeting elections, particularly after senior leaders Kiran Chaudhry and Shruti Chaudhry defected to the BJP.
Because the Haryana meeting elections strategy, the Congress get together’s capability to resolve inside conflicts and current a united entrance shall be essential to transform success within the Lok Sabha into victory within the state meeting.
