Congress Shifts Focus to Internal Challenges After Haryana Election Loss

The Indian National Congress, following its unexpected defeat in the Haryana state elections, has opted to shift focus from blaming electronic voting machines (EVMs) to addressing internal party issues. A review meeting was convened by Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge, where the decision was made to redirect their scrutiny towards factional feuds and weaknesses that may have contributed to the electoral setback.

Sources close to the party revealed that while the Congress initially criticized the election results, labeling them “unacceptable,” they have now decided to pursue evidence of alleged EVM irregularities. A technical team will investigate complaints and discrepancies noted by candidates, as detailed in a statement from Kharge’s office. The statement assured a comprehensive report on the EVM count issues will be released once the fact-finding process concludes.

The internal review aimed to prevent negative optics excluded key figures like former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former Union Minister Kumari Selja. Supporters of these leaders have openly blamed each other for the poor performance. Instead, the meeting emphasized unity, with Rahul Gandhi reiterating the necessity of burying differences for the party’s success.

Ajay Maken, who attended the meeting, acknowledged the shock of the results, which contradicted exit polls favoring Congress. He commented on the need to assess both external and internal factors that affected their electoral performance. The exploration of infighting was among the topics discussed.

In previous statements, party representatives, including Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera, pointed to the slow counting process as a factor contributing to the election outcome. The result has invigorated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the region, with BJP leadership dismissing Congress’s allegations as unfounded.

Also present at the meeting were senior Congress leaders such as K C Venugopal, Ashok Gehlot, and Deepak Babaria, who joined from Ahmedabad. The gathering signified a strategic shift to refocus on organizational cohesion ahead of other critical regional elections.