Infighting and Jat-Centric Strategy: The Fatal Flaws in Congress’s Haryana Campaign

The Congress party’s overdependence on Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the Jat community has been blamed for its surprising defeat in Haryana’s recent assembly elections. Despite early optimism, internal divisions and a flawed campaign strategy led to a loss that has left Congress leaders questioning their approach.

One of the key issues was the party's failure to involve key leaders like Kumari Selja, a prominent Dalit politician, in the campaign. Her exclusion, paired with Hooda’s dominance, fractured the party’s unity and limited its appeal to non-Jat voters. While the Congress hoped to capitalize on Jat-centric issues, such as the farmers' protests, the strategy backfired as it did not resonate with the broader electorate.

Another major flaw was Congress's inability to engage women and young voters. Unlike in Karnataka, where women played a pivotal role in securing a victory for Congress, the party neglected this vital demographic in Haryana. Internal overconfidence also played a role, with many leaders believing the election was already won. Suggestions for more aggressive voter outreach were dismissed, further contributing to the party’s defeat.

The Haryana election result, which saw the BJP secure its third consecutive win, has now forced Congress to reconsider its strategies as it prepares for upcoming elections in other states.