The Congress party, under the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge, recently held a meeting to assess the surprising results of the Haryana assembly elections, where they secured 37 out of 90 seats. Despite defying exit polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to win 48 seats and is now poised to form the government for the third consecutive term. During the review meeting, Rahul Gandhi expressed his dissatisfaction, focusing on internal issues like self-interest among local leaders rather than blaming Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Did Rahul Gandhi Walk Out of the Congress Meeting
The recent Haryana assembly election results have sparked intense discussions within the Congress party, which had hoped for a better outcome. Despite expectations of a close contest, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 48 seats, while Congress managed to win only 37 out of 90 seats. In light of this surprising defeat, Congress held a high-level review meeting, led by Mallikarjun Kharge, to analyze what went wrong.
The focus of the meeting, however, shifted from external factors like the effectiveness of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to internal challenges, including disunity among party leaders. Reports even suggest that Rahul Gandhi walked out in frustration over the direction of the conversation. Here’s a closer look at what unfolded during this critical review meeting and the underlying issues it revealed.
Congress Reflects on Haryana Election Setback
On Thursday, the senior leadership of the Congress party, led by Mallikarjun Kharge, gathered to review what they termed as “unexpected” election results in Haryana. The party had hoped for a better performance but won only 37 out of the 90 seats, with the results announced on October 8. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), despite being in power for ten years and facing anti-incumbency, emerged victorious with 48 seats. This allowed them to secure a third consecutive term in the state, which was contrary to many exit polls that had predicted a closer contest.
Rahul Gandhi’s Frustration During the Meeting
Reports suggest that Rahul Gandhi mainly remained silent during the meeting, only speaking up when the discussion turned to the performance of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Some party members were pointing to EVM tampering as the reason for their defeat, but Gandhi expressed frustration with this line of thinking. He felt that the party could have won the election if local leaders had focused more on collective progress rather than their individual ambitions. According to a report from News18, Rahul Gandhi became visibly upset when the conversation repeatedly circled back to blaming EVMs. He reportedly asked for more concrete details and then left the meeting in frustration.
High-Level Congress Leadership in Attendance
The meeting was attended by several top Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, K C Venugopal, Ashok Gehlot, Ajay Maken, and AICC state secretaries. Deepak Babaria, who is in charge of overseeing party affairs in Haryana, joined the discussion online. Notably, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a senior Congress leader who led the party’s campaign in Haryana, was absent from this important meeting. His absence was particularly noticeable given his central role in the election campaign.
What Was Discussed in the Meeting?
Ajay Maken, a senior Congress leader, spoke to the media after the review meeting, acknowledging the surprising difference between the exit polls and the actual results. He stated that the party leadership engaged in discussions to analyze the reasons behind their disappointing performance. “We held a review meeting on the Haryana election results. As you all know, the results were unexpected, especially given the exit and opinion polls. We have discussed what might have gone wrong and are planning the next steps to move forward,” Maken said, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).
Rahul Gandhi’s Concerns Beyond EVMs
While some Congress leaders leaned on the argument of EVM tampering, Rahul Gandhi’s concerns seemed to go deeper. He believed that the party’s defeat was due to internal disunity, particularly among local leaders. His frustration with this dynamic is not new; Gandhi has repeatedly called for party leaders to prioritize the collective good over personal ambitions. During the meeting, he hinted that Congress might have fared better if leaders had worked together more cohesively instead of focusing on their own progress.
Moving Forward: What’s Next for Congress?
The Haryana election results were a blow to Congress, which was hoping to capitalize on the anti-incumbency sentiment against the BJP. The review meeting was a critical step for the party to understand what went wrong and how they can improve their strategy moving forward. Ajay Maken’s comments suggest that Congress is planning to take corrective measures based on the discussions held. However, the internal tensions, particularly around leadership and accountability, may need more attention if the party wants to regain ground in future elections.
In conclusion, Rahul Gandhi’s visible frustration during the meeting highlights deeper issues within the Congress party. Rather than focusing solely on external factors like EVMs, he called attention to the need for unity and collaboration among local leaders. As the party reflects on its defeat in Haryana, it is clear that both internal reforms and strategic adjustments will be crucial for their future electoral success.
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