Welfare pitch helps Congress win its second southern state
Hindustan Times|December 04, 2023
In BRS, Congress has defeated a regional powerhouse, but party insiders admit that similar successes in other parts of the country would be difficult
Saubhadra Chatterji
Welfare pitch helps Congress win its second southern state

The Congress on Sunday scripted a rare turnaround story in Telangana as it comprehensively trounced the Bharat Rashtra Samithi in results that came as a salve for the party that was bruised by routs in three of India’s key heartland states.

The party won 65 of the 119 seats in the southern state –a rare feat for a party that had not been able to defeat a regional powerhouse in any key state, barring the Northeast, since the turn of the millennium.

The party’s resounding success in Telangana – it had won just 21 seats five years ago – was built on the back of a rooted and energetic campaign that took a leaf out of the Congress’s Karnataka strategy, focused on welfare outreach, pinned the BRS on corruption allegations, and projected a strong local leadership.

“I thank the people of Telangana for the mandate we have received from them,” Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said on X.

Congress insiders were quick to point out that a similar success against regional parties in other parts of the country would be difficult. “Many of them are our allies. And in states like Odisha (ruled by the Biju Janata Dal), our party is a distant third,” a Congress functionary said, requesting anonymity.

Still, the Congress’s triumph in a state that it was virtually decimated five years ago marked an important moment of revival – especially in southern India. Having ruled over India and a majority of its states in the initial decades after Independence, the Congress gradually conceded ground to regional parties, especially after the rise of Mandal politics in the 1980s. Be it Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha or West Bengal, the Congress has not been able to wrest power from the regional forces once it was pushed out of power.

Bu hikaye Hindustan Times dergisinin December 04, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Hindustan Times dergisinin December 04, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

HINDUSTAN TIMES DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Palestinian PM Resigns Citing 'New Reality' Of War In Gaza
Hindustan Times

Palestinian PM Resigns Citing 'New Reality' Of War In Gaza

The United States and other powers have called for a reformed Palestinian Authority to take charge of all Palestinian territories after the end of war

time-read
1 min  |
February 27, 2024
Future Perfect: The Kids Are All Right
Hindustan Times

Future Perfect: The Kids Are All Right

Gill and Jurel hold out promise by simplifying a challenging chase to help India seal series

time-read
4 dak  |
February 27, 2024
Akshay feels 'blessed' to have worked with OG Ramayan cast
Hindustan Times

Akshay feels 'blessed' to have worked with OG Ramayan cast

Director Akshay K Agarwal shot a music video, Humare Ram Aaye Hai, with the cast of the 1987 TV show, Ramayanactors Arun Govil, Dipika Chikhlia and Sunil Lahri - in Ayodhya recently.

time-read
1 min  |
January 22, 2024
Musk's firm gets nod for Sat Net; joins Jio, Bharti
Hindustan Times

Musk's firm gets nod for Sat Net; joins Jio, Bharti

Starlink, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has been allowed to offer satellite broadband services in India, two officials aware of the development said.

time-read
2 dak  |
January 22, 2024
A temple, 169 years in the making
Hindustan Times

A temple, 169 years in the making

Through decades of design and reworks, hurdles in engineering and construction, HT pieces together how the grandeur of the Ram Temple was reclaimed

time-read
8 dak  |
January 22, 2024
'Political interference' forces Vihari to quit Andhra cricket
Hindustan Times

'Political interference' forces Vihari to quit Andhra cricket

After Andhra bowed out of the Ranji Trophy at the quarter-final stage with a four-run defeat to Madhya Pradesh in Indore on Monday, senior batter Hanuma Vihari launched a scathing attack on the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), saying he will never turn up for the state again.

time-read
2 dak  |
February 27, 2024
Shafali, Kapp lead Capitals to a 9-wicket win over Warriorz
Hindustan Times

Shafali, Kapp lead Capitals to a 9-wicket win over Warriorz

A blazing fifty by Shafali Verma (64₹, 43 balls) helped Delhi Capitals make a mockery of a target of 120 and open their account in the second edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL).

time-read
2 dak  |
February 27, 2024
Making 'unbelievable things believable', the Ayhika way
Hindustan Times

Making 'unbelievable things believable', the Ayhika way

The India No. 7 was an inspired pick for the world team event and she repaid the faith, beating the Chinese world No.1

time-read
3 dak  |
February 27, 2024
'Connected TVs to reach 45 mn by 2024-end in India'
Hindustan Times

'Connected TVs to reach 45 mn by 2024-end in India'

With improvement in broadband penetration, Indian households are increasingly opting for connected or addressable TVs.

time-read
1 min  |
February 27, 2024
India chip strategy makes progress as $21 billion in proposals received
Hindustan Times

India chip strategy makes progress as $21 billion in proposals received

The Indian government, after years of watching from the sidelines of the chips race, now has to evaluate $21 billion of semiconductor proposals and divvy up taxpayer support between foreign chipmakers, local champions or some combination of the two.

time-read
1 min  |
February 27, 2024