Asaduddin Owaisi, the chief of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), on Wednesday openly criticised the Congress party for its failure to capitalise on the significant anti-incumbency sentiment in Haryana.
He emphasised that the Congress should have taken advantage of the 10 years of growing discontent against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, due to internal divisions within the Congress, the BJP managed to secure another victory.
Owaisi expressed his disappointment with the Congress, suggesting that the party had missed a crucial opportunity to defeat the BJP. According to him, the BJP has a strategic advantage when even the smallest opportunity is presented.
He pointed out that if Congress had been united and focused on the anti-incumbency sentiment, the outcome could have been different. The failure to do so allowed the BJP to maintain its foothold in the state.
Reflecting on the political situation after the 2024 parliamentary elections, Owaisi reiterated his previous stance. He mentioned that many had prematurely declared the elections as a referendum on hatred, but he disagreed with that assessment.
He held the Congress responsible for the BJP’s continued success, emphasising that as the main opposition party, Congress had the best chance to unseat the BJP in Haryana, but they were unable to achieve this.
In the wake of the Haryana assembly elections, where the BJP secured 48 out of 90 seats, Owaisi criticised Congress leaders for blaming the defeat on electronic voting machines (EVMs).
He argued that it was hypocritical for the Congress to praise EVMs when they win but blame them when they lose. According to Owaisi, the BJP’s victory in Haryana was due to a combination of factors, and blaming EVMs was merely an excuse for Congress’s failure to mount an effective opposition.
The BJP's third consecutive term in Haryana reflects its strong political strategy, despite challenges such as anti-incumbency. With Congress securing 37 seats, the party struggled to outmanoeuvre the BJP, which has continued to consolidate its position in the state.
For Owaisi, this was a golden opportunity lost for the Congress, especially in a scenario where the party should have benefitted from public dissatisfaction with the ruling party.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) addressed accusations made by Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh regarding a supposed slowdown in the release of election results.
The Congress had submitted a memorandum, spearheaded by Jairam Ramesh, complaining about the "unexplained slowdown" in the updating of election results on the ECI’s official website. In response, the ECI firmly rejected these allegations, describing them as "ill-founded" and baseless.
The Commission condemned Congress’s attempt to undermine the integrity of the electoral process by suggesting that the delay in updating results was intentional. It stressed that these accusations were part of an unfounded and irresponsible narrative.
The ECI's statement reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring transparency and fairness in the electoral process and emphasised that the claims being made by Congress had no merit.
This exchange highlights the continuing tension between the Congress and the Election Commission in the wake of the Haryana election results. As the Congress comes to terms with its defeat, its focus on the alleged technical irregularities and issues with EVMs suggests a larger struggle within the party to explain its poor performance.
On the other hand, Owaisi’s comments reflect a broader critique of the opposition’s inability to unite against the BJP effectively. His sharp remarks not only target Congress’s internal issues but also serve as a reminder of the need for the opposition parties to forge a more cohesive and strategic alliance if they hope to challenge the BJP's dominance in future elections.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, it is clear that the road ahead for the opposition remains fraught with challenges, particularly in states like Haryana, where the BJP has maintained a strong presence.
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