The Indian National Congress (INC) last saw a significant performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, securing 99 seats—an outcome that surprised many and was largely credited to the emotional and political appeal of the “Save the Constitution” narrative. In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) treated the setback with seriousness, engaging in introspection and recalibrating its strategy.
However, since that election, the Congress has lost three crucial states: Haryana, Delhi, and Maharashtra. In Jharkhand, it remains in alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), but the broader electoral trend sends a clear message: the INC must undergo urgent introspection and structural reform.
The recent developments around the caste census expose Congress’s ideological inconsistency. While the BJP, traditionally opposed to caste-based enumeration, suddenly embraced it, Congress claimed credit, asserting that BJP had borrowed its idea. But wasn’t the push for a caste census originally championed by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and parties born from the JP Movement and the Mandal Commission era? Congress’s attempt to claim the narrative seems unconvincing.
BJP, on the other hand, treats every election with strategic seriousness. During the Delhi elections, the Finance Ministry announced an income tax relief—ensuring only individuals earning above ₹12 lakh annually were taxed—garnering strong support from the middle class. In Maharashtra, the RSS played a pivotal role in reshaping the campaign in BJP’s favor.
Why then is the INC losing elections in quick succession?
Much of it stems from internal contradictions and governance issues. Rahul Gandhi speaks passionately about climate change and environmental justice, yet under the Congress-led government in Telangana, trees across 100 acres in Hyderabad were cut overnight. Visible internal conflicts—between Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar in Karnataka, or between Kumari Selja and Randeep Hooda in Haryana—further erode the party’s credibility.
Rahul Gandhi often highlights issues faced by PDA communities (Pichhde, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak), yet Congress seldom elevates strong leaders from these groups beyond figures like Mallikarjun Kharge and Siddaramaiah. The party frequently invokes B.R. Ambedkar but fails to take clear ideological stances that reflect his vision.
A recent example is the release of the movie Phule. When the Censor Board demanded scene cuts, Congress remained silent. Despite the film’s social relevance, it struggled to receive screening slots—especially in Pune, the city where Mahatma Phule led a historic anti-caste movement. The movie was shown in only 14 theatres, and only one offered a night show—the prime time for moviegoers. The rest were inconveniently scheduled for mornings or early evenings, effectively restricting access.
Meanwhile, movies like The Kashmir Files, The Kerala Story, and Savarkar received widespread support from the BJP, with party leaders booking entire theatres and even making some films tax-free—mobilizing cinema as a tool to propagate their ideological narrative.
If Congress wants to reclaim ideological ground, it must act decisively. Its leaders should attend screenings of Phule, demand fair showtimes, and in states governed by the INDIA alliance, declare the film tax-free. Mobile LED screens could display trailers and key scenes in public spaces to generate awareness.
Revival will not come through rhetoric alone—it requires action, innovation, and the courage to set the agenda. If INC fails to do so, it risks conceding the ideological space entirely to the BJP’s Hindutva-driven propaganda.
