A growing disquiet has emerged within the Congress party following its vocal “blame-the-EVM” campaign after its recent defeats in Haryana and Maharashtra, where the party had previously seen gains in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Many party leaders have expressed concerns, particularly in Maharashtra, where internal surveys conducted prior to the November 20 elections revealed signs of declining support for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, of which Congress is a part.
According to sources within the party, the results of the surveys, carried out in the lead-up to the state elections, indicated that the MVA was losing the advantage it had gained in the Lok Sabha polls held just five months earlier. These surveys, which included data from 103 seats, revealed that the MVA had seen a significant drop in support. While the MVA was ahead in 54 of these seats during the Lok Sabha elections, it was only leading in 44 seats according to the October survey.
In contrast, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance was showing a rise in support, leading in 49 seats, up from 44 in the earlier election. The survey also highlighted that the Mahayuti was gaining ground among key voter segments, including General, OBCs, and other castes. Notably, the MVA only had a lead among Muslim voters, while the NDA was ahead among all other categories, particularly the youth demographic.
The rise of the BJP’s “Ladki Bahin Yojana,” a women’s welfare scheme introduced by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, was also noted as a significant factor in shifting voter preferences. A striking 88% of survey respondents were aware of the scheme, and 82% reported that they had a beneficiary in their family. Additionally, 17% of respondents admitted that their voting preference had been influenced by the scheme.
Despite this data, Congress leadership continues to blame Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for its defeat. Some leaders argue that this is a face-saving explanation, diverting attention from internal shortcomings in strategy. While Congress had previously promised a middle ground on EVMs in its 2024 manifesto, the party is now considering a return to paper ballots.
The party’s internal differences are evident as the Congress Working Committee plans to review the results and potentially issue a resolution expressing continued skepticism about the integrity of the EVM system, despite clear signs that its loss in Maharashtra was due to changing voter dynamics rather than technological issues.
