The results of the elections in Bihar, Haryana and Jharkhand are a warning signal for the Congress. Although the party won an overwhelming majority in Haryana, the overall results do not bode well for it. Not only did it fail to make gains in Bihar, its political judgment has considerably muddied the political prospects of its own allies. Recently in Maharashtra, the NCP had outperformed the Congress. The results now only underscore Congress vulnerabilities against non-BJP competition in north India.In recent times, the Congress has acquired power because of the mistakes of its opponents rather than its own achievements — as its accession to power at the Centre showed. Even in Haryana, where it has done well, there is little evidence that the party did much to deserve its handsome victory. Om Prakash Chauthala’s presumptuous style of governance, and the rift between the INLD and BJP, paved the way for its revival. But the Congress is still bereft of a political strategy, organisational acumen and political shrewdness. The party’s showing in Bihar suggests that its hope of becoming a prime player in the Hindi heartland is still a pipe dream. Although it has moved towards slightly greater clarity on policy matters, it has no strategy to incorporate the great lower caste democratic upsurge that has transformed politics in the Hindi belt. These results suggest that the backward caste ferment is ready to crystalise in new forms. But it equally suggests that Congress is in no position to benefit from that process.The party is also vulnerable on three more fronts. Its political strategies are in the hands of loyalist coteries whose mass appeal in virtually non-existent. The party seriously needs to modernise its organisational structure and political practice in line with new realities. Second, its will and effort were not commensurate with its long term goals in the heartland. Having decided to take on the RJD, it should then have gone all out to secure its objectives. Instead it relied on a few visits by Sonia Gandhi to carry the state. Finally, the Congress has paid the price for being arrogant. The Indian electorate does not like parties that come to assume that they have the divine right to rule. The elections have proved that being in power will not, by itself, generate the momentum in Congress’s favour. This will only strengthen the bargaining power of its smaller allies. These results have, in fact, only made the party’s political life more difficult.
