The dangers of overconfidence and complacency in the Congress

The challenge for the Opposition is to confront not only the BJP but also its own shortcomings

- SAYANTAN GHOSH

In the recently concluded Haryana Assembly elections, the Congress party's defeat once again highlighted internal divisions, poor strategic choices, and complacency in the Opposition ranks. Despite the optimism surrounding their campaign, the Congress failed to capitalise on the political momentum they gained after performing relatively well in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where they and other Opposition parties managed to stop the Bharatiya Janata Party from securing a majority on its own. However, the lessons learned from the national elections did not seem to translate into their performance in Haryana. One of the primary reasons for the Congress's defeat is the lack of unity within its ranks. Infighting, particularly between two of its senior leaders, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja, over who should lead the party, sent a damaging message to voters. Hooda, who had significant influence over candidate selection and alliances, was unable to deliver results, with internal rifts becoming too prominent to ignore. This discord weakened the Congress's credibility and ability to present itself as a cohesive force, leaving voters with the impression of a party that was more concerned with internal battles than the concerns of the electorate.