Congress Candidates Reveal Why They Lost in Haryana: Blame Game or Real Issues?

The Haryana Story brings you an exclusive report on the aftermath of the recent Haryana Assembly elections, where the Congress party faced a surprising defeat. In a bid to understand what went wrong, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) set up a fact-finding committee to gather feedback from candidates. Here's what we've learned:

A Chorus of Complaints

Congress candidates didn't hold back when given the chance to explain their loss. They spoke to committee members Harish Chaudhary and Bhupesh Baghel, sharing a long list of problems they faced during the election campaign. The feedback sessions, lasting about 10 minutes per candidate, covered all 90 constituencies in Haryana. 

Key issues raised by candidates include:

• Lack of a clear election strategy
• Poor grassroots organization
• Unpreparedness for visits by senior party leaders
• Public display of internal party conflicts
• Over-reliance on Jat community votes
• Overconfidence due to previous Lok Sabha election results

Missing Leadership and Coordination 

One surprising complaint was about a "missing general secretary." Candidates felt there was a lack of coordination among party leaders, leaving them without proper guidance during the crucial campaign period. This absence of strong leadership seems to have affected the party's overall performance. 

The EVM Controversy

Interestingly, several candidates expressed doubts about the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Some found it hard to believe that "every other person in a constituency voted for the BJP." Others pointed out unexpectedly low vote percentages in villages traditionally supportive of Congress. While EVM complaints are not new in Indian politics, they highlight the deep frustration among losing candidates.

Factionalism: A Double-Edged Sword 

The feedback revealed a complex picture of party factionalism. While some candidates complained about internal conflicts hurting their chances, others praised former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for his support. Hooda, despite running his own campaign, reportedly helped other candidates in "tricky" areas, showing both the benefits and drawbacks of strong internal groups within the party. 

What Happens Next? 

Harish Chaudhary said that while they've collected feedback from many candidates, there's no clear mandate yet on what to do with this information. "The party will let us know what we are supposed to do further," he stated.

As the Congress party in Haryana grapples with this defeat, the challenge now is to turn this feedback into actionable changes. Will they address the organizational issues? Can they unite different factions? How will they respond to EVM concerns?

The Haryana Story will continue to follow this developing situation, bringing you the latest on Haryana's political landscape. Stay tuned for more updates on how the Congress plans to bounce back from this setback.