Rahul Gandhi Blames Local Leaders for Congress's Defeat in Haryana

In a significant development following the Congress party's surprising defeat in Haryana's Assembly elections, former party president Rahul Gandhi has pointed fingers at local leadership for the electoral setback. During a high-level review meeting held at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence on Thursday, Gandhi expressed strong disapproval of how Haryana leaders handled the campaign.

Leadership Crisis and Internal Conflicts 

The meeting, notably conducted without any representatives from Haryana's Congress unit, revealed deep-seated issues within the party's state organization. Gandhi specifically highlighted how local leaders prioritized their personal ambitions over the party's collective interests, leading to a fragmented campaign approach. 

"The interest of the party was sacrificed by senior leaders in Haryana to promote their own interests," Gandhi stated during the meeting, reflecting on the party's unexpected performance. 

Missed Alliance Opportunities 

A crucial revelation from the meeting was Gandhi's earlier suggestion for an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Haryana. However, this strategic proposal was rejected by local leaders who were overly confident about securing victory independently. This decision is now being scrutinized as one of the critical factors that contributed to the party's defeat.

Investigation Committee and Future Actions 

The Congress high command has decided to establish an investigation committee to thoroughly analyze the factors behind the defeat. AICC Treasurer Ajay Maken, who served as the state election in-charge, acknowledged the unexpected nature of the results, noting the significant disparity between exit poll predictions and actual outcomes.

The meeting was attended by several prominent leaders, including:

• Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge
• Rahul Gandhi
• KC Venugopal (General Secretary, Organisation)
• Ajay Maken (AICC Treasurer)
• Ashok Gehlot (Former Rajasthan Chief Minister)
• Deepak Babaria (Congress General Secretary, Haryana In-charge) - via virtual attendance 

The party is also pursuing investigations into reported EVM discrepancies in certain constituencies, having urged the Election Commission to conduct a thorough probe.