New Delhi: The Congress high command’s apparent indifference towards state-level politics is proving to be a major setback for the party. The inability to consolidate its position even in winnable states has pushed Congress into one of its most challenging phases. After the debacle in Haryana and Maharashtra, the situation in Delhi appears equally grim, with the state unit functioning under an interim president.
The lack of a permanent leadership structure in Delhi, where assembly elections are just two months away, reflects the party’s unpreparedness. Despite the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) releasing its first list of candidates and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ramping up its campaign, Congress is still struggling to establish a clear direction for Delhi. Punjab in-charge Devendra Yadav has been serving as the interim president for five months, but his efforts, including a “Nyay Yatra,” appear more symbolic than substantive.
Leadership crisis
The Congress has been without a permanent Delhi unit chief since Arvinder Singh Lovely resigned before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections to join the BJP. After the Lok Sabha defeat, the party’s central leadership was expected to appoint a new president to lead the assembly election campaign. However, no decision was made, leaving Yadav to take charge in an interim capacity. While he has launched the “Nyay Yatra,” it lacks the impact needed to energise party workers and voters. Sources indicate that Punjab leaders are being roped in to support the campaign, leading to resentment among local leaders. Meanwhile, Delhi in-charge Deepak Babaria has been missing in action since the Haryana election loss, further compounding the leadership vacuum.
Internal conflicts
In states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, internal disputes among senior leaders have cost the party dearly. The fall of the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, attributed to the rift between Digvijaya Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia, was a prime example of how leadership mismanagement can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
In Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot managed to retain power for five years despite challenges from Sachin Pilot and his supporters. However, the party’s failure to address factionalism contributed to its recent loss in the assembly elections. A similar story unfolded in Chhattisgarh, where internal feuds undermined the party’s prospects.
Apathy towards states
The Congress high command’s inability to address state-level conflicts and its reluctance to take decisive action are eroding worker morale and damaging the party’s prospects. Despite forming alliances and winning 99 Lok Sabha seats, the continued losses in state elections have overshadowed these achievements.
The absence of a coherent strategy for the Delhi assembly elections, coupled with the fallout from defeats in Haryana and Maharashtra, paints a bleak picture for Congress. Party workers are disillusioned, and the leadership’s reluctance to learn from past mistakes raises serious questions about the future of the party.
If the Congress fails to act swiftly and decisively, it risks further electoral setbacks, strengthening the BJP’s vision of a “Congress-mukt Bharat” (Congress-free India).