How comeback hopes for Congress following Lok Sabha remained shortlived after stunning defeats in Haryana, Maharashtra
Congress and the Opposition. It was a year of moments of redemption, jubilation and yet despair. Even as the Modi-led government secured a third consecutive term, the INDIA bloc found solace in the fact that BJP lost its solo majority. This slip in numbers created some political space for the Opposition, enabling the INDIA bloc to keep up the heat on the Modi 3.0 in the initial sessions of the new Lok Sabha. However, even before the excitement could settle, the Opposition suffered stunning defeats in Haryana and Maharashtra — key battlegrounds they had hoped to win to consolidate their LS poll performance.
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From zest to discord
The twin defeats not only stalled that ambition but also muted the Opposition's victories in Jammu & Kashmir and Jharkhand. Worse, they exposed rifts within the INDIA bloc, with some allies questioning Congress and Rahul Gandhi's ability to lead the fight against BJP. So, for Congress and the Opposition, 2025 teems with possibilities-of recouping or wilting away.
Cracks beneath the facade
Why did Congress' defeats in Haryana and Maharashtra trigger such a cascading effect across the Opposition alliance? According to several Opposition leaders, these losses exposed simmering tensions and conflicting interests that had been hidden by the euphoria over Lok Sabha results. The latest outcome sparked a claim-and-blame war
