By Arun Srivastava
After significant success in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, both the Congress and the Party leader Rahul Gandhi have been defeated in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir, results of the polls of which were announced on October 8.. Congress could manage to win only six seats in Jammu and Kashmir. Congress had fielded 32 candidates for the JK elections, three in Kashmir and 29 in Jammu. The National Conference led by Farooq Abdullah contested 51 seats under a pre-poll alliance between the two INDIA bloc parties and won 41. In Jammu most of its prominent leaders lost the polls. Even Congress working president and former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand in Chhamb lost the elections.
It clearly underscored that the narrative that Rahul Gandhi was trying to set has not been accepted by the Hindus of Jammu region and they still continue to look up to BJP as their party.. Even in the valley, Congress failed.. It was in true sense the victory of National Conference which articulated the aspiration of the people of Kashmir. It was a verdict for restoration of Art 370, which is perceived as the protector of the interest of the people of valley. Significantly people of the valley even rejected PDP, viewed as the ally of BJP.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is not politically correct in saying: “The result of Haryana is unexpected. The party is assessing the public opinion. After talking to our ground workers, getting complete information and checking the facts, a detailed response will come from the party.” Shooting up of the voting percentage from 28 in the last election to 40 this time, is the clear manifestation of the popular support to the Congress. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Kharge and Rahul have betrayed the trust of the people.
Rahul must be conscious of his image and the mission he has undertaken, but while pursuing his goal how could he ignore the basic tenets of the real politick, which is quite crude and brutal. What happened in Haryana also makes it copiously clear that he has not succeeded in cleaning the party of the unscrupulous and vested interest. They continue to rule. What has prevented Rahul to take lessons from defeats in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh?
After Bharat Jodo Yatra it was envisaged that Rahul would prune the party of the manipulators, self seekers and vested interests. But it did not appear to have happened. The self seekers continue to rule and guide the party. People who even cannot get their wives and family members to vote for the Congress candidates are ruling the roost and dictating the party. Rahul’s body guards and peons are issuing directions and finalising the names of the candidates. What is worse that they are even not allowing the genuine ground level workers to meet him. What is happening in Congress is beyond comprehension. It was indeed shocking to know that Rahul’s guard did not allow Congress MP from Amethi, Kishori Lal Sharma to meet him. Eventually he had to send a mobile message and then he could meet Rahul. This has happened with the person who has been associated with Gandhi family for decades. What will happen to an ordinary cadre or worker aspiring to meet Rahul and apprise him of the ground level facts?
The manner in which former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda distributed the tickets was also questionable. Some people close to Rahul managed to get tickets for their favourites. This was brought to the knowledge of Rahul well before the election. But he did not take it seriously. Rahul also could not bring together the factional leaders. Their lust for power made them to ruin the image and gains the Congress Party made in Lok Sabha elections.
Rahul ought to have realised one basic thing; It was not the credibility and image of the local Congress that was at stake. Instead it was his image, credibility and commitment to the common people that mattered. People are looking towards him as the emancipator. The local leaders were to benefit from him. It was not vice-versa.] . Perilously he allowed them to dictate him. It is a known fact that Hooda ill-treating senior dalit leader Kumari Selja did not go well with Dalits of the state who constitute around 20 per cent of the State’s total population as per the 2011 census. Political circle of the state is agog with the news that both the leaders had instructed their supporters to ensure the defeat of their candidates. Rahul could have comprehended such situation and taken the requisite steps.
Delinking of Haryana and J K assembly elections from Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections had already sent a strong message that Modi and Shah would be unsparing in maneouvering the elections and resort to all kinds of machinations to win the elections to the two states. Rahul was certainly not a naïve to understand the implications and bearing of the electoral results of the two states on the running fight between Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. If RSS cadres would be cold towards the BJP candidates, Modi will use all mechanism to win. A victory will force Bhagwat to lie low. Now with Haryana victory Modi is in the position to show his red eyes to the RSS leaders.
A victory is a victory and for Modi-Shah combination it does not matter at what cost it comes. A look at the past elections, whether it is of assemblies or municipalities will make clear the importance of an electoral win. The results of JK and Haryana elections also send a strong message that Congress performs considerably well in company of other INDIA bloc members. Its performance is poor when it goes alone. With double crown on head, Modi will also try to win Maharashtra and Jharkhand. This will further put the RSS chief Bhagwat in the tight spot.
For Rahul distresses are not over. With defeats to his credit, he will have dictates from the INDIA bloc members in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Seat sharing talks with alliance partners in these states would prove to be a challenging task. With a sharp decline in his aura and image, Rahul will face tough to prevail on his partners. The Congress had been hoping to corner more seats in Maharashtra riding on its performance in the Lok Sabha elections when it scored the biggest tally in the state.
It will not be surprising if Modi reverts back to his old slogan “Modi’s guarantee” and portrays his own image during the elections to Maharashtra and Jharkhand. He has already conveyed the in-between the lines message; “Heartfelt gratitude to Haryana! I salute the people of Haryana for giving a clear majority to the BJP once again. This is the victory of the politics of development and good governance”. The victory is of more worth as it has come in the state where the farmers and soldiers had vowed to defeat him. (IPA
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