• Source:JND
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Congress Seats Assembly Elections 2024:  The Congress party posted a disappointing total on both the electoral pitches of Maharashtra and Jharkhand on Saturday as the counting nears completion in both states. In Maharashtra, where its INDIA alliance faced a total decimation, the party was among the poorest performers, just ahead of Sharad Pawar's NCP with 19 assembly seats. In Jharkhand, although its partner Jharkhand Mukti Morcha posted an impressive win and seems to be doing the heavy lifting, the grand old party has appeared to be the 'weak link'.

The unpredictable poll outcome came just after a four-and-a-half month of Lok Sabha Election results, in which Congress had emerged a 'big brother' to its allies with 99 seats and hinted towards a much-needed 'resurrection and resurgence'. Today's election results, clubbed with voters' snub in Haryana and Jammu Kashmir to the Kharge-led camp are painting a grim picture for the party.

Why Congress Failed In Maharashtra

While Congress leaders blamed pre-poll seat adjustments, infighting among leaders, and the BJP's masterstroke of Ladki Behan Yojna, they are still shellshocked by the unpleasant mandate.

"We could not at any moment gauge this was going to be a wave election, we never anticipated this. We felt it was close," a senior Congress leader said as quoted by the Indian Express.

"...there could be many reasons. Our seat adjustments were not perfect. All the leaders in the alliance were angling for chief ministership. But the Ladki Behan Yojana seems to have had a huge impact,” he added.

Congress's high hopes for the Vidarbha region, the cotton belt with 62 Assembly seats and 10 Lok Sabha constituencies, also witnessed a severe jolt. The party failed to make inroads even after winning 5 out of 10 LS seats. Meanwhile, the BJP has posted an impressive victory in the region.

Why Congress Emerged As An Achilles' Heel In Jharkhand

In Jharkhand, the Congress relied heavily on the groundwork laid by its partner Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Devoid of strong state leadership, independent image and mass leaders, the party could contribute only marginally to the poll tally of the INDIA bloc.

Hemant Soren's focus on tribal welfare, employment, and rural development resonated with voters. At the same time, the Congress relied heavily on the anti-BJP narrative and national issues in the state election, causing another setback in the poll battleground.