Rahul Gandhi Analyses "Unexpected" Haryana Results following Congress’s Election Defeat

Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday stated that the grand old party is currently reviewing the “unexpected” outcome of the Haryana Assembly elections. BJP comfortably crossed the majority mark with 48 seats and is set to form the government for the third time, whereas Congress managed to bag 37 seats.

“We are analysing the unexpected results of Haryana. We will inform the Election Commission about the complaints coming from many assembly constituencies,” said Rahul Gandhi taking to social media platform “X”. Gandhi expressed gratitude to the voters and the “Babbar Sher” party workers in Haryana. “We will continue this fight for rights, for social and economic justice, for truth, and will keep raising your voice,” he added.

Despite the grand old party’s loss in Haryana, where the Congress secured 37 seats—nine short of the 46 needed for a majority—Gandhi highlighted the party's success in Jammu and Kashmir, where the Congress formed a significant alliance with the National Conference. He termed this outcome a "victory of democratic self-respect," celebrating the Congress-NC coalition's 49-seat win against the BJP’s 29.

Following the election results, which contradicted pre-election projections of a Congress majority, Gandhi noted, "The results went against the ground reality," as the Congress raised concerns about the counting process and the performance of voting machines in at least three districts. The Election Commission previously rejected a memorandum from the Congress alleging delays in updating counting figures. In response to these claims, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked during a BJP victory celebration that the Congress aims to "tarnish every institution in the country."

Meanwhile, criticism has emerged from Congress allies, such as Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction. "INDIA alliance could not win in Haryana because the Congress felt they would win on their own and they did not need any other partner in power. Congress leader Hooda Ji felt we would win. If they (Congress) had shared seats with the Samajwadi Party, AAP or other smaller parties, the results would have been different. The way the BJP fought the elections is very good. BJP won a lost battle. Everybody believed the Congress was winning but it still lost and the BJP won because it has a systematic system and management, we need it to give to them for this," said Sanjay Raut said.