Months after the Congress's disastrous showing in the Lok Sabha elections, the outcome of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana has come with some positive takeaways for the principal opposition party that is looking for a way to counter the political narrative of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Congress leaders point out that the dip in the number of seats for the ruling alliance in Maharashtra, and a cliffhanger verdict in Haryana prove that the BJP is not invincible as was being sought to be projected by the saffron party.
That the lacklustre performance comes just months after the spectacular victory of the BJP in the two states, especially in Haryana where the party had won all ten seats on offer, say Congress leaders, is evidence of the bread and butter issues overshadowing the BJP's narrative that was focused on nationalism.
“It is an encouraging result for the Congress party. It proves that the BJP cannot expect their fake narrative of nationalism will work everytime,” said K.C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary in-charge of organisation.
It is felt that a big lesson for the party from these elections is that it has to keep raising issues that are closer home and have a direct impact on the lives of the people. “Unemployment is a big issue. Farmers are angry with the BJP for the callousness with which it has dealt with their issues. We need to keep taking up these issues,” said a Congress leader.
In the Assembly elections, a conscious decision was taken within the Congress to avoid falling into the BJP's narrative of nationalism and either keep off or adopt a nuanced approach to issues such as Article 370 and NRC. The party's campaign in both Maharashtra and Haryana focused on state-level issues. An effort was made to try and tap public dissatisfaction with the state governments, and the party kept up an attack on the incumbent chief ministers.
Congress leaders feel that the poll outcome would come as a huge morale booster for the party workers as it proves that the party cannot be written off and also that with the right narrative in place, it can counter the BJP.
“Every election poses new challenges and we learn from it. A big lesson from this election is that it is important to learn what the people want and focus on that,” said Haryana PCC chief Kumari Selja.
The results come at a time when the party is embarking on a process of intensive brainstorming to frame an effective counter to the BJP's narrative on issues such as NRC and the Citizenship Amendment Bill as also to mount a powerful attack on the Modi government's economic policies.
An informal policy group has been set up by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on recommending what stand the party should be taking on important issues, and this panel will hold its first meeting on Friday. On top of the agenda for the meeting is the Citizenship Amendment Bill.
Meanwhile, the results of the Assembly elections are being interpreted as a success of the old guard in the party, especially in Haryana, where former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was up in arms to get Ashok Tanwar, a Rahul Gandhi appointee, removed from the post of PCC chief.