After Lok Sabha boost, Maharashtra drubbing sends Congress back to square one

NEW DELHI: The euphoria lasted five and a half months flat.

After defying the most polarising election campaign by BJP, and posting a creditable performance in the 2024 LS polls that triggered talks of revival and a change in the national mood, Congress Saturday landed back at square one where it had been for a decade.

The party has been swept out of Maharashtra and Haryana - battles it was expected to win - while it posted its worst ever tally in J&K despite ally NC's sweep, with the sole bright spot being Jharkhand as a junior ally to JMM, reflecting the crisis associated with it after losing at the Centre in 2014.

With Maharashtra and Haryana, Congress has lost the two big solo states that were its best chance to amplify the mood of revival after the LS polls. The party was confident, and the leadership eager, as was visible from the intense campaign. And the agenda was an echo of the LS campaign - Constitution under threat, Adani, caste census, five guarantees, removal of 50% quota cap.

As the party tries to make sense of how the mood has changed so irretrievably, the whitewash is bound to add uncertainty about the agenda and strategy that it had felt was sealed for the onward march. And if the party strategists believe a pivot is required on certain issues and a complete junking of some, then Congress' task of reinvention would put it back to the drawing board, messing its plan to move forward with challenging BJP with assurance - a big setback to the post-2024 plans.

AICC's Jairam Ramesh insisted Congress would stick to its agenda. But many believe a change is required as "guarantees-based populism" has lost its novelty, while the party is not catching the imagination of the aspirational urban and middle-class. Caste census and 50% cap had its best audience in Maharashtra that is mired in myriad quota battles, and a rout there may raise serious doubts within on its political appeal.

Though Congress has hinted at "manipulation" in both states, many argue allegations against EVMs etc should not be flung about loosely. It would take hope LS would still stay competitive, while there are issues galore to continue the offensive against Modi govt.

But setbacks on Congress turfs are bound to demoralise the cadre, which saw a turnaround just five months ago. The immediate Congress challenge would be to convince its workers that the wheels have not come off the party's fight against BJP.

The failure to finesse the old poll management style, coupled with lack of control of state satraps and poor communication, are viewed as weaknesses. "We have forgotten how to win elections," an insider said.