The Congress party's defeat in Haryana is not a subject for research. As the data emerges, it is becoming clear how Congress turned its fortunes around and ultimately faced a loss. A significant reason for this appears to be the party's decision to adopt a 'go it alone' policy, sidelining the India alliance. The Aam Aadmi Party, which is part of the India alliance, has failed to establish itself in Haryana, but it has played a role in undermining Congress's position as well.

On many seats Votes AAP got were more than the margin by which Congress lost-

For example, consider the election results from the Uchana Kalan constituency. BJP won this seat. It’s candidate Devender Chatarbhuj Atri got 48968 votes while his nearest rival Congress candidate Brijendra Singh got 48 936 votes. BJP party won this seat by the skin of it’s teeth with a narrow margin of 32 votes But you will be surprised to note that AAP candidate Pawan Fuji secured 2495 votes. Had the Congress and AAP contested this seat together, the result would have been in favour of INDI alliance.

Taked another sample : Asandh seat has been won by BJP with a margin of 2306 votes. Yoginder Singh Rana of BJP got 54 761 votes while Congress party’s Shamsher Singh Gogi got 52455 votes. AAP candidate Aman Singh Jundla got 4290 votes.

On Rania sea, INLD’s Arjun Chautala who has won the seat , got 43914 votes & nearest rival Congress candidate Sarv Mittar got 39723 votes. The margin of congress party’s defeat was 4191 votes but AAP candidate Harpinder Singh got 4697 votes.

The point is if the votes which AAP managed to garner, could be shifted to Congress, the picture of results could have taken a different shape for the party which is now under severe criticism from India partners across the nation.

Why Congress did not stitch an alliance ?

It appears that initially both the parties wanted to stitch alliance but the choice of seats between the two INDIA partners led to collapse of talks of seat arrangement. Arvind Kejriwal massively campaigned in Haryana. Term of “ haryana ka lal’ was coined for Kejriwal in this election but he failed to impress the voters. May be overconfidence of the Congress party snatched away the victory from its hands. In 2024 LS polls, Congress was able to win 5 out of 10 seats as the election was fought under INDIA banner. Had the congress , AAP and may be Akhilesh Yadav led Smajwadi party fought together, there would have been jubilation at 24 Akber road on Tuesday night.

Haryana done & dusted, what’s in store for Delhi ?

The elephant in the room is that after suffering defeat in Haryana will Congress team up with AAP in Delhi assembly polls which are slated to be held in early months of 2025. The way Congress is in a better position than AAP in Haryana, Aam Admi party is in power in Delhi and ironically it had unseated Congress from the government to come to power during the days of Sheila Dixit. News reports inform that AAP has said that there will be no alliance in Delhi. Although congress teaming up with AAP is an altogether another story. AAP came to power in Delhi taking advantage of the prevailing anti-incumbency against Sheila Dixit government. In Delhi liquor case also which has become a big issue against AAP which eventually led to Kejriwal resigning as CM, initially Congress had taken up the issue and Ajay Maken was quite vocal about it. So how will the both ex partners train guns at each other in Delhi polls is quite understandable. BJP will surely claim that both the parties are in a marriage of convenience and are power hungry.

Another ally slams Congress over Haryana debacle

A sharp editorial in Saamana, the mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), written by party leader Sanjay Raut, directly criticized the Congress party, accusing it of wasting what should have been a clear victory.

Notably in coming months, Maharashtra also goes to poll and Congress is in an alliance with Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction).