A section of the Congress party is growing increasingly uneasy with the leadership's vocal "blame-the-EVM" rhetoric following the party's consecutive losses in the Haryana and Maharashtra state elections.

These defeats come on the heels of the BJP's own setbacks in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the party had suffered losses in both states.

The Congress' loss in Maharashtra, in particular, should not have been a major surprise. According to internal surveys conducted in the lead-up to the November 20 elections, the party had already faced indications that maintaining the gains from the Lok Sabha elections in June would be challenging. The surveys showed that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)-the alliance that includes Congress-was struggling to hold onto the momentum it had gained earlier in the year. 

In fact, a survey covering 103 constituencies just weeks before the election revealed that the MVA's lead from the June Lok Sabha elections had significantly diminished. Of the 103 "strong MVA seats," the alliance was ahead in only 44, compared to 54 during the national elections. Meanwhile, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which had been trailing in the Lok Sabha polls, was now leading in 49 of these seats.

The surveys also revealed that the MVA was losing ground across several key voter demographics. While Muslims were the only group where the MVA still held a clear advantage over the NDA, the BJP-led alliance was ahead among all other segments, including General, OBCs, SBC, SC, SEBC, and ST voters. Particularly striking was the strong lead the Mahayuti had among younger voters, who seemed to favor the BJP-led coalition.

A pivotal factor in the election was the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a welfare scheme introduced by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's government. A significant 88% of the 57,309 respondents in the survey were aware of the program, with 82% reporting that a family member had benefited from it. More than 17% of respondents said their voting preference had shifted because of the scheme, underscoring its impact on voter sentiment in the state. 

Given these findings, Congress' defeat in Maharashtra and Haryana raises questions about the effectiveness of its electoral strategy. While internal surveys clearly pointed to a challenging race, the leadership's focus on the "blame-the-EVM" narrative has generated concern within the party. Critics argue that this approach distracts from the deeper issues within the party's electoral strategy and governance in key states.

 As the Congress grapples with these defeats, there is increasing debate within the party about the need to reassess its strategy moving forward, both in terms of its election campaigning and internal decision-making processes. The party faces a crucial challenge in regaining lost ground ahead of future elections, and whether it continues to blame external factors or chooses to focus on internal reforms will likely determine its political future.

Source: oneindia