Congress loses way after Maharashtra loss

New Delhi: After a crushing defeat in Maharashtra, enthusiasm among Congress party cadres has diminished, particularly as the Delhi Assembly elections approach. Many leaders believe that unless there is a major correction in the party’s hierarchy, changes will not reflect on the ground.
Political analysts highlight the lack of decisive leadership at the top. According to one expert, “The party does not have anyone at the top among Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and KC Venugopal who is decisive and can build trust within the rank and file of the party by making hard-hitting decisions.”
The expert added, “The cadre is demotivated after the Maharashtra loss and disconnected from grassroots issues, which it usually focuses on during elections. This has limited its primary ability to mobilize voters effectively. Additionally, weak internal communication and factionalism in several state units have hampered the party’s ability to present a united front.”
Congress has yet to craft a compelling narrative to counter the BJP effectively. The BJP’s strong control over its narrative, coupled with grassroots mobilization, has consistently outpaced Congress. The BJP has branded itself as a party of development and nationalism, while portraying Congress as corrupt and ineffective.
The organizational leadership of Congress has also lost much of its political standing. After securing around 100 Lok Sabha seats in the past, the party is now facing disregard from alliance partners.
Recounting an incident in Parliament, a parliamentarian revealed, “As the Congress party was preparing an agenda against Gautam Adani, two leaders close to Rahul Gandhi—KC Venugopal and Gaurav Gogoi—approached Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to discuss the matter. However, there was a cold response from him, and they returned to Rahul Gandhi to update him. It seemed like Akhilesh had refused to take part in it.”
Insiders say that after the Maharashtra loss, Congress’s acceptance among top I.N.D.I.A. bloc leaders such as Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee has further diminished, leading to disagreements over several issues.
A political analyst noted, “There is no one leader at the top who makes decisions or who the cadre follows. Leaders don’t know who to approach when there is a problem or who will fix the problem. There are multiple power centers within the party, and this has led to finger-pointing and a lack of accountability. The rot has reached such an extent that there is no functional hierarchy or political strategy in place to contest elections.”
The analyst elaborated on the absence of strategic groundwork: “Congress approaches elections thinking there is a wave in their favor, but without a functional hierarchy, who will order the formation of ground cadre such as booth committees? Even if such orders are given, who will oversee their implementation? If they are overseen, who will be held accountable? And if accountability exists, who will take action? At every level, there is sloth or neglect.”
The combination of demoralized cadres, weak leadership, factionalism, and a lack of strategic planning leaves Congress ill-prepared to face upcoming elections, including the critical Delhi Assembly polls.