Congress’s big warning to Maharashtra leaders after the Haryana debacle is centered around the party’s overconfidence, which led to its shocking loss in the state. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut blamed this overconfidence for the defeat, suggesting that an alliance with INDIA bloc partners, such as the AAP and the Samajwadi Party, could have changed the outcome.

The Congress party’s performance in Haryana was unexpected, with initial leads turning into a significant loss. The BJP secured a historic hat-trick, winning 48 seats, while the Congress managed 37 out of 90 assembly seats. This loss has raised concerns about the party’s strategy and potential impact on upcoming elections in Maharashtra.

In fact, the Congress party’s results in Haryana and Maharashtra have infused life into a declining Congress ¹. The party won 46 seats in Maharashtra, against 42 in 2014 elections, and 31 seats in Haryana against only 15 in the last election. This verdict appears to have given the Congress the message that it is the “old guard” which has delivered and brought it back to power in some states