By Manjunath K. Shresthi
October 10, 2024
The Lok Sabha (LS) election results in June 2024 surprised all and all pollsters barring a few got it right. Fast forward to October, the assembly results in Haryana’s 90 seats have shocked and surprised everyone. It’s no coincidence that the pollsters got it wrong again. Post the LS results in June this year; the Congress party was on cloud nine and it earned adulation and praise from all political and non-political quarters. The outcome, the Congress party let its guard down, and the BJP became over vigilant.
BJP has been ruling the north Indian state of Haryana with 90 assembly seats since 2014. The results on October 08, it has emerged as the single largest party with a solid majority. It’s been a hat-trick for the saffron party. The agrarian state’s poll outcome has made the politics in the state bi-polar. It’s the end of regional parties, at least now for the time being. Since the run-up to the elections in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir, the results were already known. Everyone said that the Congress party would make a comeback and the state’s former Chief Minister Bhoopinder Singh Hooda, was given a free hand. His running rift with Kumari Selja, did not bode well for the party’s poll prospects. There were open invitations given to her to join the BJP, if she wanted to?
The BJP with huge resources at its behest and known to micro-manage elections, is known for its single handed commitment, dedication and devotion to victory at all costs. The results are now all too self-evident. If the BJP snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, the Congress party also snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
The Congress party refused to tie-up with the India Alliance members like the AAP, and others with a presence in north India’s politics. They were over confident of winning, and now have egg on their faces. The independents that were denied tickets from their official party, turned rebel and contested; and their efforts have dented the final results to the Congress party. The Grand old party (GOP) has not been able to convincingly defeat the BJP in a direct contest; and if it has been able to it win, it’s been with the help of the allies in that particular state.
Even in Jammu & Kashmir (J & K), the National Conference (NC) has done exceedingly well, and the Congress party had a pre-poll alliance. The results in Haryana and J & K have not been to its liking, and it has eroded their political credibility before the India Alliance members. The allies will not take the Congress party seriously and they have to build their portfolio from scratch now.
The BJP has got a fresh lease of life post its victory in Haryana, and winning large number of seats in the Jammu region. The Congress party post the results, has definitely lost its bargaining power with its allies. Assembly elections to Jharkhand and Maharashtra will be held next. What game plan will the BJP have to neutralize the India Alliance in the two states? And does the Congress party has a ‘Plan B’ to take on the BJP ?
