CHANDIGARH: An unprecedented surge of the AAP and its clean sweep in
Punjab has given sleepless nights to the
Congress in
Haryana, where leaders are yet to come to terms with the result.
It may be recalled that having seen a poll debacle in the year 2014, when Congress could hardly retain double figure in the Assembly, the Congress now has 30 MLAs after getting 28.08% vote share during the last Assembly polls. On the other hand, the BJP had got 40 seats, with a decline of 7 seats as compared to 2014 elections. It came into power by forging alliance with
JJP
, which had got 10 seats with a vote share of 14.80%.
A very senior leader in the Congress legislative party (CLP) admitted that public display of factionism in the party added to the poor performance of the Congress in Punjab, in addition to a strong undercurrent in favor of AAP. `` The result could have been better had the infighting remained within the four walls of party,’’ he said, while referring to the role of
PPCC
president as well as the party high command.
A senior women leader of the
Haryana Congress
admitted that an AAP surge in Haryana would impact the Congress party and INLD first.
`` This is a matter of fact that in such circumstances, the
Opposition
party becomes the first target, then comes the party in power. First, they build up at the cost of the Opposition party,’’ she said.
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