Congress Ticket Rush: Too Many Hopefuls, Too Few Seats in Haryana

The Haryana Congress is buzzing with activity as the state's assembly elections loom just three months away. The party is facing an unusual problem - too many ticket seekers. In each assembly seat, 10 to 15 party members are claiming to be strong candidates. This situation is giving the party's high command a big headache. 

Survey-Based Selection

Congress is planning to choose its candidates based on surveys, just like it did for the recent Lok Sabha elections. The first survey is already underway, and a second one will start soon. The party might start asking for applications from ticket seekers next month. 

Many hopeful candidates are working hard to improve their chances. Some are staying active in their areas, hoping to get good reports in the surveys. Others are even conducting their own online surveys to show they are popular and strong candidates. 

Internal Challenges 

1. Factions Within the Party

The Congress in Haryana has clear groupings, and this is no secret. After a meeting with Rahul Gandhi, the open statements from different groups have stopped. But on the ground, workers from different groups still don't get along well. This was seen in recent party meetings where some leaders didn't show up to events organized by rival groups. 

2. Leadership Tussle

During the Lok Sabha elections, there was a clear fight for leadership among Congress leaders. For example, former minister Birendra Singh tried to downplay Hisar candidate Jai Prakash (JP). Interestingly, JP got his biggest lead from Uchana, which is Birendra Singh's stronghold. Such internal rivalries could harm the party's chances in the assembly elections.  

3. Alliance Complications 

In Kurukshetra, Congress gave the Lok Sabha seat to its alliance partner, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This means the Congress symbol was missing from ballot papers there. This could affect the assembly elections too. If Congress and AAP split votes, it might benefit the BJP. AAP is planning to contest strongly in areas of Haryana near Punjab, which could challenge Congress. 

Opportunities for Congress 

Despite these challenges, Congress sees some advantages:

1. Anti-Incumbency Wave: People in Haryana might be ready for a change after 10 years of BJP rule. Even though BJP changed the Chief Minister, it didn't help them much in the Lok Sabha elections.
2. Unhappy Jat and SC Communities: In the Lok Sabha elections, both Jat and Scheduled Caste communities voted against BJP. This led to BJP's defeat in areas where these communities have a strong presence.
3. Farmer Protests and Agnipath Scheme: People are unhappy with some of the central government's policies. The long farmer protests against farm laws and the Agnipath military recruitment scheme have made many young people, especially in rural areas, angry with the BJP government. 

The Congress party in Haryana is at a crucial point. It has a chance to challenge the BJP's rule, but it must first solve its internal problems. The party needs to choose candidates wisely, bring together its different groups, and work with its allies carefully. If Congress can overcome these hurdles, it might give the BJP a tough fight in the upcoming assembly elections. However, the road ahead is not easy, and how the party handles these challenges in the coming months will be crucial for its success.