It's reasonable to recall 2024 as a year that nearly reignited the congress party, which had been left wounded and in disarray following consecutive losses in the 2014 and 2019 lok sabha elections. It’s hard to picture a party that has found itself in the Opposition for two consecutive terms managing to double its performance in the general elections and rise from the third position to the top in maharashtra, only to let it slip in under six months.
The significant numbers reveal that eight states held elections in 2024—Arunachal Pradesh and sikkim in April, andhra pradesh and odisha in May-June, kashmir - SRINAGAR/JAMMU' target='_blank' title='jammu and kashmir-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW">jammu and kashmir and haryana in September-October, and jharkhand and maharashtra in november this year. Among the states and one union territory that went to the polls, the bjp is part of the governing bodies in four of these states (Arunachal Pradesh, odisha, haryana, and Maharashtra) and is in a national alliance with the ruling party in one (Andhra Pradesh). In contrast, the congress only maintains a presence in jharkhand, where it allies with the JMM, the leading party in that coalition.
The disparity in the number of states that held elections sharply contrasts with the enthusiasm expressed by the congress after the lok sabha elections. The party nearly doubled its representation from 52 to 99 seats, while the Opposition india coalition, totaling 234 seats, managed to limit the bjp to 240 seats, which was significantly lower than the majority threshold of 272.
The congress kicked off the year from a position of strength, with party MP rahul gandhi embarking on the second stage of his Bharat Jodo yatra from chennai to Mumbai. Following this, the congress launched an organized 'Samvidhan Bachao' initiative that reinterpreted the BJP's '400 paar' slogan as a ploy to "alter the Constitution" and abolish reservation-based quotas.
This campaign succeeded in preventing the bjp from achieving a majority in the lok sabha for a third consecutive term. However, the excitement within the congress resembled a celebration of victory, and the party seized every opportunity to portray it as such. The congress appeared energized, while the bjp, despite trying to maintain a strong facade, recognized it had suffered a significant blow.
Three months after the lok sabha elections, the congress had a chance to translate its lok sabha successes into real gains during the haryana Assembly elections. The dissatisfaction of the Jats with the bjp, a decade-long trend of anti-incumbency, and the Congress' recovery in the lok sabha elections—having won five out of ten seats in the state—seemed to data-align towards a likely victory for the Congress.
Although jharkhand provided some hope, the consecutive losses in two states where the bjp triumphed have led to the congress feeling more isolated, raising doubts about rahul Gandhi's leadership skills. As the year comes to an end, the congress is being challenged by members of the india bloc, which are poised to question its status as the 'dominant force' in the coalition. mamata banerjee, the leader of the Trinamool congress, has already claimed the role of guiding the Opposition group, highlighting her party's success in countering the BJP. The inaugural meeting of the india bloc is anticipated to take place in early January, and the congress may still be facing significant difficulties ahead.