New Delhi: One of the most storied political organisations around the world, the Indian National Congress, or simply Congress, experienced fluctuations like no other political party in 2024. Its political fortunes this year can be summed up in two words, acceptance and ignorance. Voters and alliance partners accepted it as a challenger to the mighty BJP, but the party was ignorant of the fact that it is not the only challenger to the saffron party.
The party, which piggybacked on its allies to the high of general elections, was brought down for being ignorant of the fact that it needed to accommodate its allies and partners. The 99 seats that it won in the Lok Sabha elections provided a glimmer of hope after suffering setbacks in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in 2023. However, losses in the Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections, coupled with below average performances in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand along with tensions within the INDIA bloc, show the challenges before the party.
A resounding high in Lok Sabha
The year began on a good note for the grand old party as it was able to cobble together an alliance of like minded “secular” parties. The naming of the alliance seemed a masterstroke, the INDIA bloc, drew sharp reactions from the ruling BJP and its supporters so much so that they started using the country’s another name Bharat. For Congress it was also important that its party president Mallikarjun Kharge was chosen to head the bloc.
Congress went all guns blazing in the general elections with the narrative that BJP will change the Constitution to curb the rights of Dalits. Its poll promises also resonated with the masses. All this culminated in the party winning 99 seats, a far cry from what it used to in its hay days but way more than what the party got in the 2019 and 2014 polls. This “victory” was interpreted as a signal of the party’s ability to regain a foothold in national politics and made the party complacent.
Factors contributing to the success
Improved campaign strategy: The party focused on economic issues, welfare schemes, and the promise of inclusive governance.
Alliances: Congress strategically collaborated with regional players to consolidate opposition votes.
Targeted narrative: Emphasising secularism and opposing communal polarisation resonated with specific voter segments.
Leaders within Congress celebrated the result as a testament to their resilience and portrayed it as the beginning of a revival capable of challenging the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Arrogance post victory?
Following the Lok Sabha elections, Congress leaders adopted an aggressive and, at times, overconfident tone in their political rhetoric. Statements targeting PM Modi and the BJP were often more reactive than substantive.
Dismissive attitude: Congress appeared overly critical of Modi’s governance model, sometimes overlooking public sentiment supporting specific policies.
Prejudging BJP’s decline: Many leaders within the party prematurely claimed that Congress was poised to lead a national resurgence, overlooking the fact that how well BJP’s poll machinery works, even after setbacks.
Congress’s approach alienated sections of the electorate and made allies uneasy. The perception of arrogance may have diluted the goodwill Congress generated after the Lok Sabha elections. This showed in Haryana, where it chose not to ally with its INDIA bloc partner Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The low: Losses in Haryana and Maharashtra
The assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra became a stark reality check for Congress. Despite its optimism post-Lok Sabha, the party failed to win these states. Haryana was particularly interesting as the party was in celebratedly mood even before a single vote was polled. There were talks going on about when the oath taking ceremony will take place or who all would be in the cabinet. Also in Jammu and Kashmir, instead of challenging the BJP in Jammu region the party was heavily focused in the Kashmir valley.
The results were catastrophic for the party, both in Haryana and in Jammu. It was decimated in both by BJP. In Maharashtra too the party was too busy fighting its allies over the CM seat than focussing on the voter connection initiatives. The party was also averse to the suggestions that what worked in the national elections might not work in a state election.
Reasons for the losses
Factionalism and concentration of power: Internal rifts and infighting among state leaders led to disorganised campaign. This is especially true in Haryana where a bloc led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda was given too much power, he handpicked most candidates and ignored other leaders. In Maharashtra, it has no credible face.
Inability to adapt: The party’s national narrative did not align with regional issues, leaving its campaigns disconnected from local voter concerns. The party was too focussed on Adani issue and Constitution that it failed to capture the imagination of the electorate.
These losses further dented Congress’s image as a formidable opposition force. The setbacks not only diminished the party’s state-level influence but also raised questions about its readiness to challenge the BJP’s electoral machinery.
Congress’s leadership in the INDIA bloc has come under scrutiny after its performances in the assembly elections, especially its unwillingness to accommodate allies in states where it is strong. While Congress is the largest party in the bloc, its allies have begun questioning its ability to lead effectively.
Challenges in the INDIA bloc
Trust deficit: Smaller parties have expressed concerns about Congress’s perceived arrogance, accusing it of dominating the alliance rather than fostering equal partnerships.
Electoral performance: The recent state election losses have led to doubts about Congress’s ability to deliver votes, especially in regions where its presence has weakened over the years.
Strategic differences: Some allies believe Congress’s approach is outdated and lacks the agility required to counter BJP’s sophisticated electoral strategies.
The road ahead in 2025
To regain relevance and perform well in the upcoming Delhi and Bihar assembly elections, Congress must focus on targeted, state-specific strategies while addressing broader organisational and alliance-related challenges.
In Delhi, the party needs to rebuild its ground support by engaging with urban voters through grassroots campaigns. Highlighting local issues such as housing, employment, and public services can help reconnect with the electorate. Congress should also present youth- and women-centric policies, focusing on skill development, safety, healthcare, and education. Given Delhi’s pressing environmental concerns, the party should position itself as a pro-environment alternative by proposing sustainable solutions for pollution and urban infrastructure.
In Bihar, Congress must prioritise strengthening its alliance within the INDIA bloc. Building a cohesive front with the RJD and other regional partners through timely seat-sharing agreements will be critical. As Bihar’s politics is heavily caste-driven, Congress needs to craft policies that address the socio-economic needs of key caste groups while collaborating with regional leaders to amplify this outreach. The party should focus on rural development by offering tangible solutions for agricultural growth, employment, and improved connectivity. Addressing migration and unemployment issues through long-term industrialisation and education reforms can resonate with the youth, a critical voter base.
For Congress, it should learn from its mistakes in 2024 to remain relevant and regain political significance, the party must adopt a multi-pronged approach that balances localised strategies with a broader vision for national politics.
