The Congress’s performance in Haryana is even worse than the numbers indicate. The party failed to win the support of the powerful Jat community, who went with Om Prakash Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal, even as most non-Jat communities supported the Bharatiya Janata Party in this election.
The Congress retained 15 seats in the 90-member assembly, while the Bharatiya Janata Party won 47.
The Congress's decision to focus on the Jat community, who form a quarter of Haryana's population, is relatively new. In the 2005 polls, the Congress had won 67 seats by appealing to a coalition of non-Jat voters: Dalits, Brahmins, middle-ranking castes and Muslims.
Dumping Bhajan Lal
But after that year’s election, the Congress decided to dump Bhajan Lal, the most important non-Jat leader in Haryana politics. Instead, the Congress high command made Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a Jat, the state's chief minister.
In a key mistake, the high command did little to pacify Bhajan Lal for shunting him out of the position. In 2007, after his son Kuldip Bishnoi was suspended for criticising the Congress party’s central leadership, Bhajan Lal left the party to form the Haryana Janhit Congress.
Compounding this failure, the Congress did nothing to reach out to its traditional rainbow coalition of non-Jats before the 2009 assembly polls. Hooda, the most powerful Congress leader in the state and a favourite of party president Sonia Gandhi, did what came easily. He capitulated to the most powerful community in Haryana, the Jats.
Control slips
By 2009, Congress control over Haryana was slipping. The party won 46 seats out of 90 and barely managed to form the government. The signal was loud and clear: the party could not rely on the Jat vote for long. Some leaders did try to restore the party’s traditional non-Jat coalition, but Hooda preferred to target the Jats.
In the latest assembly polls, the Jats had two options – Chautala and Hooda. Most opted for Chautala, whose Indian National Lok Dal emerged number two after the BJP. The non-Jats were rendered virtually leaderless after the death of Bhajan Lal in 2011. Bishnoi could not attract them outside a few constituencies. Their votes went en masse to the BJP.
As a result, much of the blame for the Congress’ marginalisation in Haryana must be laid at Hooda’s step.
The Congress retained 15 seats in the 90-member assembly, while the Bharatiya Janata Party won 47.
The Congress's decision to focus on the Jat community, who form a quarter of Haryana's population, is relatively new. In the 2005 polls, the Congress had won 67 seats by appealing to a coalition of non-Jat voters: Dalits, Brahmins, middle-ranking castes and Muslims.
Dumping Bhajan Lal
But after that year’s election, the Congress decided to dump Bhajan Lal, the most important non-Jat leader in Haryana politics. Instead, the Congress high command made Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a Jat, the state's chief minister.
In a key mistake, the high command did little to pacify Bhajan Lal for shunting him out of the position. In 2007, after his son Kuldip Bishnoi was suspended for criticising the Congress party’s central leadership, Bhajan Lal left the party to form the Haryana Janhit Congress.
Compounding this failure, the Congress did nothing to reach out to its traditional rainbow coalition of non-Jats before the 2009 assembly polls. Hooda, the most powerful Congress leader in the state and a favourite of party president Sonia Gandhi, did what came easily. He capitulated to the most powerful community in Haryana, the Jats.
Control slips
By 2009, Congress control over Haryana was slipping. The party won 46 seats out of 90 and barely managed to form the government. The signal was loud and clear: the party could not rely on the Jat vote for long. Some leaders did try to restore the party’s traditional non-Jat coalition, but Hooda preferred to target the Jats.
In the latest assembly polls, the Jats had two options – Chautala and Hooda. Most opted for Chautala, whose Indian National Lok Dal emerged number two after the BJP. The non-Jats were rendered virtually leaderless after the death of Bhajan Lal in 2011. Bishnoi could not attract them outside a few constituencies. Their votes went en masse to the BJP.
As a result, much of the blame for the Congress’ marginalisation in Haryana must be laid at Hooda’s step.
Buy an annual Scroll Membership to support independent journalism and get special benefits.
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!