Delhi: March 1, 2025
Congress, which has struggled to open its account in Delhi for the past three elections, is focusing more on the defeat of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) than its own loss. The party sees this as an opportunity for its eventual revival in the national capital.
According to Congress sources, the decision to take an aggressive stance against AAP was a strategic one aimed at improving their vote share. Historically, since 1993, the BJP has maintained a vote share between 32% and 38%, while Congress had been the ruling party in Delhi until 2013. In recent years, Congress’s share has dramatically dropped, from 40.31% in 2008 to just 4.26% in 2020. On the other hand, AAP’s vote share has steadily increased, reaching 53.57% in 2020.
Despite their electoral defeat, Congress is hopeful that AAP’s performance will deteriorate over time, allowing the party to reclaim its position. Congress believes that once AAP is out of power, it will struggle to maintain its grip on the electorate, particularly given the challenges AAP will face in staying relevant. Before the results, some Congress leaders had speculated that the Muslim vote, which had shifted towards AAP, might return to Congress, providing a potential base for the party’s resurgence.
Internal Opposition Discord and Alliances
Congress’s poor performance has also been linked to internal discord within the opposition alliance, INDIA. Many of its allies believed Congress should have collaborated with AAP to challenge the BJP. However, Congress maintains that AAP’s decision to field candidates in all 70 constituencies effectively shut down any possibility of an alliance.
Some members of the INDIA coalition also feel that after a resounding victory in Delhi, the BJP’s image as an electoral juggernaut would be cemented, making future elections even more challenging for opposition parties.
Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge React
In the wake of Congress’s loss, former party president Rahul Gandhi accepted the results with humility. He acknowledged the defeat but emphasized that Congress’s fight against inflation, pollution, and corruption in Delhi would continue. He called for persistent efforts to address the people’s issues and reaffirmed Congress’s commitment to progress in the region.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also accepted the verdict, acknowledging that despite the party’s efforts to create an atmosphere against the government, the voters did not give Congress the expected mandate. He emphasized that Congress would continue to fight for the public’s issues, including pollution, Yamuna cleaning, and basic amenities like water, electricity, and roads in Delhi.
With renewed focus on local issues and its continued fight for the rights of Delhi’s residents, Congress is determined to stay connected with the people and continue its struggle for a better future for the city.
