The Congress party is grappling with an existential crisis following its dismal performance in the Bihar assembly elections, where it managed to secure only six out of the 61 seats it contested. Despite record voter turnout, the party's familiar refrain of "vote chori" (vote theft) failed to gain traction both on the ground and among its allies.
Election Commission's Credibility Questions
The Election Commission, led by Gyanesh Kumar, faces legitimate scrutiny over its handling of the electoral process. Ground reports revealed how the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls transformed into a citizenship verification exercise, placing the burden of proof on vulnerable citizens. The Supreme Court had to intervene to rescue the process from overreach.
Additionally, the Chief Election Commissioner must address questions arising from an ongoing investigation by the Karnataka SIT. The probe focuses on irregular applications for deletion of names from the voter list of Aland constituency ahead of the 2023 assembly polls, raising further concerns about electoral integrity.
Congress's Denialism and Political Failure
While legitimate questions persist about the EC's conduct, they cannot obscure Congress's own political failures. The party's poor performance in Bihar highlights its unchecked decline in a state where it once held significant influence. Rahul Gandhi's claim that the election was "not fair from the very beginning" appears disconnected from ground realities, especially since the vote theft allegations found no reflection in voter petitions or formal complaints.
More tellingly, the vote chor narrative failed to resonate even with Congress's allies. DMK chief Stalin emphasized that election outcomes depend on "welfare delivery, social and ideological coalitions, clear political message and dedicated management" - implicitly criticizing Congress's approach while acknowledging EC issues.
Internal Divisions and Leadership Disconnect
The party exhibits clear internal fault lines in its response to the electoral setback. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge struck a more conciliatory tone, speaking of "respecting the verdict of the people of Bihar" and the "need to study and understand the results." This contrasts sharply with Rahul Gandhi's outright rejection of the electoral process.
The leadership appears disengaged from the party's organizational reality. Critical questions remain unanswered: why the party machinery cannot effectively communicate its message on the ground, why it failed to project a united front with ally RJD, and why it operates like a puppet controlled erratically from Delhi.
Constant vigilance is necessary to maintain free and fair elections, but Congress's allegations of an airtight conspiracy between the ruling party and EC represent a political overreach that ultimately proves self-defeating. By framing every electoral loss as theft, the party risks insulting voters and accelerating its own political marginalization.
The Bihar results serve as a stark warning: a leadership disconnected from the party's ground reality cannot shape its future trajectory. Unless Congress engages in honest introspection about its organizational weaknesses and communication failures, its decline appears inevitable.
