'Jats And Jalebis': Not A Congress' Thing This Haryana Election

Haryana Results 2024: Haryana Assembly election results have been declared and they are not less than a surprise for both the BJP and Congress , however, the word ‘surprise’ came with a two totally opposite emotions for the two national parties. For the BJP, Haryana which it thought was slipping away from its hands gave the party a historic victory and a feat no other party was able to achieve and for the Congress which was expecting a clean sweep, especially after the exit polls prediction, faced a clear cut defeat, forcing it to once again blame the EVMs.

On a lighter note, there is more to analyse in the Haryana elections besides the numbers and that are ‘Jalebis’ and Jats.

Both these words remained a trend during the Haryana polls as the Congress was heavily banking on the Jats since they have not favoured BJP traditionally and ‘jalebis’ (one of Indians favourite sweet dish) after it was mentioned by Rahul Gandhi during one of his election speeches.

Rahul Gandhi during his election rally in Haryana ’s Gohana talked about the organised manufacturing and export of jalebis, as the place is famous for the dish. And hoping for a positive outcome, it had also ordered for ‘bulk jalebis’ to celebrate the results, but neither the Jats, or jalebis became a Congress ’ thing after Haryana results.

Haryana Assembly Election Results 2024

What Costed Congress Haryana ?

Over-confidence, factionalism and too much dependence on one community cost the Congress dearly in the assembly elections in Haryana , party insiders feel after it failed in its comeback bid after staying out of power for a decade.

It was a shock defeat in Haryana , considered a low-hanging fruit by the party which was hoping to cash in on a 10-year anti-incumbency and carry forward the Lok Sabha election gains against the BJP .

The victory of the Congress -National Conference alliance in Jammu and Kashmir saved the day for the party to some extent though the Congress could win only six seats out of over 30 it contested, while NC won 42.

In Haryana , even though the Congress managed over 39 per cent vote share, the difference with BJP being less than one per cent, it failed to oust the BJP which will form government for a record third term in the state.

The Congress got a simple majority in Himachal Pradesh earlier even though its vote share was one per cent more than the BJP in 2022.

As poll result trends settled exposing glaring chinks in Congress armour in Haryana , it was clear that internal feuds, over-confidence of top brass and over-reliance on one community turned the recipe sour and led the party astray.

The Congress , which had put all eggs in one basket -- that of Jat stalwart and ex-chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda -- ended up alienating other leaders including former union minister and Dalit face of the party Kumari Selja who made her displeasure known and called for serious introspection on Tuesday.

With inputs from PTI