With key elections looming, both parties face critical challenges in adapting their strategies for the future
THE YEAR 2024 will go down in history as one of the most politically momentous years for the country, and political leaders of all hues need to learn lessons to prepare for the electoral tests in 2025.
The return of the Modi government for a third consecutive term was undoubtedly the most significant political event of the year. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which entered the election campaign with the war cry “abki baar 400 paar,” had to settle for 240 seats, making it dependent on its allies to form the government.
The Indian National Congress (INC), with 99 seats, improved its tally, but the INDIA alliance fell far short of securing a majority. Ironically, the victor was not very happy with the result, while the rivals were pleased that the BJP-led alliance had been deprived of an overwhelming majority, which could have “amended the constitution.”
The BJP paid the price for arrogance and indulging in divisive politics. Its leaders had even stated that the party did not need the support of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and that it was capable of contesting and winning elections on its own.
The INDIA alliance also made an impact with regional parties aligning with the Congress, which raised the spectre of major amendments to the constitution if the NDA alliance had returned with a two-thirds majority.
The BJP was quick to introspect and take lessons from its campaign and performance in the Lok Sabha elections. This was reflected in the shocking defeat of the Congress in Haryana, where almost everyone had predicted the defeat of the incumbent BJP government.
The BJP put in place a strategy that outsmarted the Congress, and it was able to wrest victory from the jaws of defeat. The win boosted the morale of party leaders and workers after the relatively poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections.
If the INDIA alliance partners do not learn from last year’s lessons, they are doomed to repeat history.
The party also received a further boost with an emphatic win in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, where the stakes were high for the INDIA alliance partners. The BJP was able to bounce back from its setback in the Lok Sabha elections and appeared to have learned its lessons.
That does not seem to be the case with the Congress, which had increased its tally in the Lok Sabha but then became complacent. Its Haryana leaders were so sure of victory that they didn’t plan any strategy for the assembly elections.
Besides the open infighting among its leaders, no one thought of reaching out to the rebel candidates. The INDIA alliance fell apart with the Congress refusing an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party. Similar mistakes were made in Maharashtra.
The new year will witness two prestigious elections: one for the Delhi Assembly and the second in Bihar. If the INDIA alliance partners do not learn from last year’s lessons, they are doomed to repeat history.
Also Read: Congress – The Paradox of Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
It will also be a testing time for the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, who had shown some sparks in the Lok Sabha campaign but took a back seat during the assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra. On the other hand, the Modi government will face the challenge of keeping its allies together.
Going by the recent track record, neither the Congress nor the BJP has learned its lessons. While the Congress continues to grope in the dark, the BJP has not shed its image as an arrogant ruling party that prefers to steamroll its decisions without taking everyone along. 
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Vipin Pubby
The author, a freelance journalist, is a former Resident Editor of Indian Express, Chandigarh, and reported on the political developments in Jammu and Kashmir, North-Eastern India, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab in his long, illustrious career.
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