Cong show in Hindi states: Can’t get worse

The Congress’ losses in three Hindi states should call for serious scrutiny of its strategy, messaging, issues that it took up, leadership and its ties vis-à-vis other players in those states.

It also urges a review of its approach and attitude towards INDIA where it had presumed itself to be the natural pole without showing even a hint of accommodation of their interests.

While the party would, for sure, come out with detailed analysis, it seems to have fallen a victim of its insolence as is transparent from its behavior.

In Madhya Pradesh, where the party was expected to trump the BJP, the voters have handed it its most humiliating defeat (66 seats and 40% popular votes) with nearly a difference of 100 seats from the victorious Bhartiya Janata Party (163 seats and 48.6% votes).

Similarly, the BJP wrested 70 seats from the Congress while holding on to its 89. Contrast this with Congress gaining mere 43 from the BJP even while holding on to merely 20 of its previous ones.

Similarly, the party’s optimism in Rajasthan has proved to be unrealistic in the face of internecine feuds among its two principal leaders that marred its image around the halfway mark of the party’s tenure in power.

The party may also have to assess its reliance on welfarism and caste census, planks that not merely failed to enthuse new sections but also failed to protect the previous adherents in the Hindi states.

Perhaps the party may have to separate the issue of adequate representation of social diversity in the power structure from its obsession with caste census.

It would need a rethink on the efficacy of caste card against the communal one being played by its major rival as urban OBCs no longer seem to be enamoured of the caste question as much as they are enthused with the overall economic agenda of the political parties and the charisma of their leadership.

The outcome ought to be analysed in the light of the distinctive pattern of voting in the states in the south and the one in the Hindi heartland.

Karnataka model of guarantees may have worked for the party in Telangana but failed to produce results beyond the Vindhyas where the rival party has gained embedded itself too well to be uprooted in the near future.

The Congress has very little time before it gets into the frenzied activity for the general elections slated in April-May next year. An organizational overhaul will be imperative as most leaders in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh ignored the high command.

It has a formidable adversary in the BJP with a leadership pivoted in Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose appeal transcends the borders in the Hindi states and a disciplined cadre ready to bow to the central command.

As is evident from the latest mandate, the Congress is now left with just one chief minister in the key Hindi region (in Himachal Pradesh) while the BJP has expanded its sway all across it.

Telangana may have provided it a face-saver from the complete rout but greater challenges lie ahead as the nation heads for Lok Sabha polls.