Why Has Congress Lost Most Elections Since the Lok Sabha Polls? Yashwant Deshmukh & Tavleen Singh Explain
Bihar’s 2025 verdict shows women voters decided the race, Congress struggled with leadership, and the opposition must rethink its strategy fast.
In this special discussion, Ms. Barkha Dutt speaks with Yashwant Deshmukh (Founder-Director, C-Voter), Tavleen Singh (Author & Columnist), and Dilip Cherian (Image & Political Communications Expert) to understand why the Mahagathbandhan suffered a heavy defeat in Bihar despite high expectations after the 2025 Lok Sabha performance.
Introduction
Ms. Dutt opens the conversation by highlighting key questions: Why did Congress and RJD fail? Why did unemployment not translate into votes for the alliance? Why did Chief Minister Nitish Kumar bounce back? And what happened to the influence of strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor?
Key Insights from the Discussion
Yashwant Deshmukh explains that C-Voter’s post-poll study shows women voters completely shifted the election, overpowering the male vote where young men preferred the Mahagathbandhan. Even Muslim women voted in notable numbers for the NDA, influenced strongly by Nitish Kumar’s welfare record and the “10,000-rupee” cash scheme.
Unemployment was the top issue, but voters—especially women—did not punish Nitish Kumar for it. They instead trusted his long-term policies more than the Mahagathbandhan’s promises.
Tavleen Singh argues that Rahul Gandhi’s leadership remains Congress’ biggest weakness, saying the party focuses more on building his image than rebuilding its organization. She stresses that the party’s lack of ground structure and confused messaging hurt them badly.
Dilip Cherian adds that Congress failed to adapt, pushed the wrong issues like “voter list concerns,” and mismanaged its seat strategy within the alliance. Both experts agree that without strong leadership and clarity, Congress cannot revive nationally.
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