Congress shows indifference, appointing interim leaders without caste considerations.
New Delhi: The major setbacks Congress faced in Haryana and Maharashtra appear to have had a significant impact on the party. The central leadership of Congress seems to have already conceded defeat in an important state like Delhi, even before the elections take place. Despite the crushing losses in Haryana and Maharashtra, there is no sign of any improvement or course correction within the party.
There are signals that Congress will contest the upcoming elections in a friendly manner with AAP to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from coming to power. Elections are scheduled in the key state of Delhi in the next two months, but the party’s situation is challenging. Congress recently launched a month-long Nyay Yatra, during which not only senior leaders kept their distance, but key central figures also postponed the concluding rally in advance.
Delhi leaders had planned a significant rally at Talkatora Stadium on December 9, coinciding with the birthday of former President Sonia Gandhi. This rally was intended to mark the election campaign’s launch, with prominent leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, National President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Sonia Gandhi participating. However, the central leadership chose not to prioritize the event. The program itself was postponed, and there is a clear lack of enthusiasm within Congress about the upcoming Delhi elections.
The level of indifference is evident, with no permanent president appointed and no decisions made based on caste equations. In a state dominated by Baniyas, Punjabis, Jats, and Gujjars, Devendra Yadav serves as the interim president, while Qazi Nizamuddin, a Muslim, is the in-charge, and Danish Abrar, also a Muslim, is the in-charge secretary. These appointments suggest that the central leadership views the Delhi elections more as a symbolic contest rather than a serious political fight.
The recent Nyay Yatra has also been unsuccessful in terms of public participation. Initiated by Delhi leader and national treasurer Ajay Maken and concluded by Sachin Pilot, the rally failed to draw significant crowds. Moreover, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge showed little to no interest in the event. Notably, the Nyay Yatra deliberately stayed away from Arvind Kejriwal’s constituency, New Delhi, leading to speculation about whether Congress intends to contest friendly elections with AAP to prevent the BJP from regaining control.
Arvind Kejriwal and his senior leaders are actively working to influence public sentiment by touring across Delhi, while Congress, which once ruled the state for 15 years, appears to be focusing only on formalities. Reports and surveys shared by Congress officials in Delhi are highly discouraging. According to these reports, BJP could only be stopped through a strategic alliance with AAP. Observers have reportedly indicated that Congress has no real presence in the contest for even a single seat, which has left the leadership deeply concerned. However, Congress’s central leadership has repeatedly underestimated the importance of state elections.
Sources suggest that the situation could have been corrected if Congress had shown stronger organizational effort. Yet, the party’s internal interest in Delhi affairs seems to have waned completely. Rahul Gandhi appears to prioritize states only during elections, while other leaders in Delhi, despite their experience and potential, are ignored by the top leadership. General Secretary Venugopal has focused on consolidating his position by delegating responsibilities to weak leaders who are more likely to chant slogans than lead.
The refusal of Rahul and other senior members of the Gandhi family to attend the crucial rally has raised many questions. A crushing defeat in Delhi, following the setbacks in Haryana and Maharashtra, could compound Congress’s challenges even further.