Congress had set a store by Assembly polls, dubbed as a semi-final ahead of 2024 national polls. it hoped for an encore in Punjab, a comeback in Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur and an improved tally in UP. But the results dashed all its hopes, writes Amit Agnihotri
After the Congress suffered a major setback in the five assembly polls in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh, the high command said it will learn from the outcome even as concerns were raised over the grand old party’s future.
The state polls were crucial for the Congress and were dubbed as a semi-final ahead of the 2024 national elections, when the grand old party hopes to dislodge the BJP.
Out of the five states, the Congress was hopeful of retaining power in Punjab, staging a comeback in Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur and looked forward to improving its tally in UP.
However, the results shocked the party’s rank and file as well as former chief Rahul Gandhi and UP in charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who had led the campaign in five states.
The Congress lost power in Punjab to the Aam Aadmi Party and failed to defeat the BJP in Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur. In Uttar Pradesh, the party could not even retain the seven seats it had won in 2017.
Party chief Sonia Gandhi convened a meeting of the Congress Working Committee to review the poll losses in five states, which means the Congress will have to struggle for five more years besides revamping the organization nationally.
Since 2020, both Rahul and Priyanka have been calling the shots in the Congress. Taking a dig at them former Congress leader Ashwani Kumar, who left the party ahead of the state polls, termed the two as “entitled” leaders.
Veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad, who led the group of 23 dissenters last year, said it was painful to watch the grand old party die like this.
On his part, Rahul, a former Congress chief, accepted the poll defeat with humility.
“Humbly accept the people’s verdict. Best wishes to those who have won the mandate. My gratitude to all Congress workers and volunteers for their hard work and dedication. We will learn from this and keep working for the interests of the people of India,” Rahul tweeted.
Priyanka said the Congress could not convert public opinion into seats but will continue to raise people’s issues.
