Delhi elections are a watershed for all the major contestants. While the Aam Aadmi Party is euphoric with its out-of-the-world performance, Bharatiya Janata Party is licking its wounds would while the Congress has scored a golden duck.
While a poor show was on the cards for Congress which has been struggling to remain relevant in national politics, the final score of zero came as a bolt from the blue for its dispirited and lackluster leadership. The complete white wash in the national capital where the party ruled for 15 years from 1998 to 2013 shows that the party is now almost an insignificant player.
Not having much hope from the party, its once loyal vote bank shifted its loyalty towards AAP.
The party was nowhere in the contest as its candidates managed to come second only in four seats - Davender Yadav (Badli), Raj Kumar Chauhan (Mangol Puri), Shoaib Iqbal (Matia Mahal) and Hasan Ahmed (Mustafabad).
The eight seats which the party managed to win in the 2013 Delhi polls were all won by the Arvind Kejriwal's AAP. Congress vote share has come down to 9.7% from 24.55% in 2013.
Here are five reasons why Congress was decimated
1. Lack of leadership
There has been a lack of leadership both at the national as well as state level. The party which relies heavily on the Gandhi family has a dearth of ground workers and it can be seen as the party is losing one election after the other.
Not giving a free hand to local leaders and workers to work and banking on a clueless Rahul Gandhi, who is totally cut off from ground realities and yet to show any leadership qualities has brought the party to its present state. It has also resulted in Congress leaders joining other parties. Senior leaders called the Delhi result the outcome of confused leadership.
2. Scam tainted tag
The scam tainted tag which led to the downfall of the party in Lok Sabha elections and reducing it to 44 members in the 543-member House still remains with the party. With no answer to the corruption allegations in 2G case, coal case, Commonwealth Games, the party is not seen as an alternative anymore.
3. Sidelining of leaders
Many senior leaders including Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President Arvinder Singh Lovely were sidelined and denied ticket in the polls. This resulted in the infighting and anger amongst the people and people voted against the party.
Even three-time chief minister Sheila Dikshit was sidelined and was not seen anywhere during the campaign.
4. No impact of rallies
Not far behind the BJP, the Congress also held larger than life rallies, roadshows which were spearheaded by party President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The party failed to connect with the people as there was hardly any door-to-door campaigning or jan sabhas.
Even for Delhiites, the contest was only between BJP and AAP barring a few seats.
5. Party relying on Gandhi family
Even after being decimated in the Lok Sabha elections, the party relied heavily on the Gandhi family and did not let second line of leaders to emerge in the new-age India. The Gandhi family tag has now lost its relevance and the party needs an overhaul in order to make a comeback in the upcoming elections.
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