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| 2024: Congress faced historic defeat in Assembly polls | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 31: Congress leadership in Jammu and Kashmir wants to forget the year 2024 as the party has suffered a historic defeat.
J&K Congress suffered the worst defeat in its political history in the 2024 assembly elections. Congress managed to win only six seats in the 90-member assembly, raising serious questions over the existence of the party.
Earlier, the worst performance of the Congress was in the 1996 elections, when the party won seven seats.
However, at that time the party had won from Hindu-dominated constituencies of Jammu province such as Nowshera, Chhamb, Kalakot and Billawar.
The defeat this time is more worrying not only in terms of numbers but also in terms of political influence.
There are several reasons behind the defeat of Congress in the 2024 election. Among the most prominent reasons are lack of leadership and factionalism within the party. Many senior leaders of the party either left the party or played a passive role before the elections. Apart from this, ignoring local issues and weak contact with workers at the grassroots level also harmed the party.
After the removal of Article 370, there was a major change in the political situation of Jammu and Kashmir. Congress's ambiguous stand on this issue proved to be detrimental for the party. While the BJP presented it as its major achievement, the Congress failed to clarify its stand on the issue. This created doubts among the voters about the commitment and direction of the party.
With the defeat of Congress in the 2024 elections, new political equations have emerged in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP maintained its dominance in Jammu, while the National Conference strengthened its hold in Kashmir. Apart from this, new regional parties and independent candidates also made a dent in the traditional vote bank of the Congress.
This is the time for introspection and reorganization for the Congress. The party will not only have to strengthen its organizational structure but also establish strong ties with workers and voters at the grassroots level. Strengthening its hold on traditional Hindu-dominated seats in Jammu province and attracting youth and women in Kashmir should be the party's priority.
Besides, the Congress will have to encourage new leadership and bring forward young faces. A clear and consistent policy will have to be adopted giving priority to local issues. The party will have to take a firm stand on sensitive issues like Article 370 to restore the confidence of voters.
The historic defeat of the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir has raised serious concerns about the future of the party. If the party does not change its strategies and take concrete steps to face the current challenges, its political existence may weaken further. The performance of the party in the coming years will depend on how it overcomes its weaknesses and establishes its political identity afresh. |
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