Lessons for Opposition in poll results

Every political party makes mistakes, but the smart ones learn from them and move forward.

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The growth and success of any party must reflect on past mistakes and use them as stepping stones for progress.

The Congress could not maintain momentum after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections six months ago when it doubled its seats.

What caused the decline in its performance? Did the Congress party, the oldest in India, fail to seize opportunities for learning and adaptation? Did the NCP and the Uddhav faction of the Shiv Sena misinterpret the signals? Did the BJP make errors in Jharkhand? The recent results from the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections reveal missed growth opportunities.

Two things stand out in the Maharashtra and Jharkhand polls. The first is the size of the BJP-led NDA win in Maharashtra, defeating the NCP and Uddhav Shiv Sena, both of which had ruled Maharashtra earlier, and the ease with which Hemant Soren retained Jharkhand. Both were ruling their respective states.

The alliance could have performed better if Congress had learned from past experiences and made necessary adjustments. Unlike the Pachmarhi or Shimla conclaves, there has been a lack of post-election analysis.