Bhupinder Hooda (L), Rahul Gandhi, and Kumari Shelja. (Photo/Agencies) NEW DELHI: Following the party's unexpected loss in the Haryana elections , Congress's INDIA bloc partner in Maharashtra targeted it, suggesting a re-evaluation of election strategy. Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece, Saamana, in its editorial, targeted Congress on Wednesday.
Coming down heavily on Bhupinder Hooda and Congress leadership, the Saamana editorial said that the reason for the party's defeat in Haryana was overconfidence. "The results of the Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections are surprising for both the BJP and Congress. In Haryana, the Congress's defeat is attributed to over confidence.
No one was firmly saying that the BJP would return to power in Haryana. Overall, the atmosphere suggested that Congress would win decisively; however, the art of how to turn a victory into a defeat can be learned from Congress." Saamana said that there was an anti-BJP atmosphere in Haryana.
"The situation was such that BJP ministers and candidates were not being allowed to enter the villages of Haryana, yet the results in Haryana went against the Congress. Despite the favorable situation in Haryana, the Congress could not capitalize on it. This happens everytime with the Congress," the editorial further said.
The editorial also attributed the rift between Bhupinder Hooda and Kumari Shelja as a reason for Congress's dismal performance, saying, "Hooda and his people publicly humiliated Shelja and the Congres.