The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his absence during the announcement of the Assembly election results in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.
Amit Malviya, the head of BJP's IT cell, took a jab at Gandhi's decision to be abroad on such a critical day for his party, questioning his leadership at a time when the party needs strong guidance.
Malviya suggested that Gandhi's absence is a sign of weak leadership, particularly as the Congress faces challenges in key states. He pointed out that being away during election results reflects poorly on a leader's commitment to their party and workers, especially during times of defeat. This criticism comes in the wake of Congress' ongoing struggles to maintain strong footholds in various states.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Malviya accused Rahul Gandhi of undermining the livelihoods of halwais (sweet makers) in India by advocating for the establishment of jalebi factories in Haryana, a comment made in the past by Gandhi. He used this as an example to emphasise Gandhi's disconnect from local issues and the people affected by them.
Furthermore, Malviya claimed that the Congress party's stance on reservations had backfired, particularly with the Dalit community in Haryana. According to him, the Dalits have rejected Congress' "lies" and have shown support for the BJP instead.
He mentioned that the BJP is leading in several seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), improving on its previous performance. Malviya believes this trend will continue in the upcoming elections in states like Jharkhand and Maharashtra, where the BJP aims to gain further ground.
In another post, Malviya referenced Rahul Gandhi's previous statements on reservations, suggesting that his words have damaged Congress' prospects. He argued that the Congress' ambiguous or negative messaging around reservations has alienated the Dalit community, leading them to turn toward the BJP. He highlighted the fact that in Haryana, the BJP has increased its lead in SC-reserved seats, demonstrating a shift in voter loyalty.
As election results are being tallied, the BJP is showing strong performance in Haryana, leading in several constituencies. Current trends indicate that the BJP is likely to secure a third consecutive term in the state. While the final results are still awaited, the BJP's confidence is high, as it appears to be maintaining a lead over Congress in the 90-member Assembly of Haryana.
Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, the situation is different. Early trends suggest that the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance is performing well and is on track to secure a majority. The alliance is likely to form the government, signalling a significant shift in the political landscape of the region.
Despite these developments, both parties await the final official results. In Haryana, the BJP holds an edge with 48 seats, while Congress trails with 36. The vote share between the two parties remains close, according to the Election Commission's data, but the BJP is optimistic about forming the government.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress-NC alliance appears to be heading toward a comfortable majority, positioning them to lead the state government. This election marks a key moment in the region's political history, following the recent reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir and its return to state elections.
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