The results of five assembly elections came as a setback for the Congress, which was looking to revive its prospects for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. On the basis of anti-BJP politics, the Congress was expecting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to do well to end the emerging challenge, but met with disappointment.
The Congress was on the right side of ‘anti-incumbency’ in Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, as it was the main rival of the ruling BJP in these states. Party workers were also seen struggling under the leadership of party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in electorally important Uttar Pradesh. Congress leaders also took a strong stand against agricultural laws, which were eventually repealed by the Centre. Instead of making headway in UP, the Congress was reduced to a historic low, making the task of its revival even more difficult, if not impossible.
The defeat of veteran leaders increased the challenge of Congress
The rise of AAP in Punjab is another worrying sign for the Congress. The Congress finds it difficult to revive itself in a competition that has strong local players. Now with the massive victory of the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab and the defeat of top Congress leaders including Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and State Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu, the challenge of the party high command has increased.
AAP leaders calling the party a ‘national power’
With its success in Punjab, AAP leaders are seeing the party as a ‘national power’ and talking of replacing the Congress. He also says that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be the BJP’s main rival in future. AAP leader Raghav Chadha said about Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that if people give a chance, he will be in a big role of Prime Minister in 2024.
Mamta is also seeing herself as an alternative to Modi
Trinamool Congress leaders want to see West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the role and have spoken of the need for broader opposition unity against the BJP. He has met leaders of Shiv Sena and NCP and also held talks with Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. Along with the competition ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, there is also a churn in the opposition. Both the AAP and the Trinamool Congress are keen to be seen as a major challenger to the BJP, a role the Congress has been accepting so far.