Was Congress Really Defeated in Haryana Due to “Vote Theft”? What We Saw on the Ground Was Eye-Opening

Was Congress Really Defeated in Haryana Due to “Vote Theft”? What We Saw on the Ground Was Eye-Opening

A year after the Haryana Assembly election results, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has reignited the debate by alleging large-scale “vote theft” in the state, claiming that one out of every eight voters is fake — an accusation made while releasing his so-called “H-Files.” However, he offered no concrete proof to support his charges.

Rahul Gandhi questioned how the BJP could have secured a clear majority in Haryana when Congress appeared confident of victory. But before targeting the BJP and the Election Commission, Gandhi must answer why it took the Congress a full year to appoint a Leader of the Opposition in the Haryana Assembly — or why the party has failed to look beyond the Hooda family for state leadership. The real problem, it seems, lies not in the voter list but within Congress’s own house.

Congress’s Internal Collapse

Our on-ground reporting during the Haryana elections revealed that Congress’s “wave” existed mostly in the media — not among the masses. The Hooda faction had virtually taken over the party, alienating other senior leaders and workers. Many party insiders, including Kumari Selja, were visibly sidelined and upset. This internal resentment translated into visible disunity on the ground.

In many constituencies, Congress candidates were seen fighting rival factions within their own party more aggressively than their BJP opponents. At several campaign offices, workers spent more time criticizing their own leadership than strategizing against the opposition.

Congress also fielded several money-backed candidates who relied on glamour and personal wealth rather than grassroots connect. Some focused on celebrity rallies instead of policy issues. Shockingly, one candidate was often too intoxicated during the day to campaign, leaving his son to manage the show. Another couldn’t even articulate key promises from the party’s manifesto.

At rallies, a significant number of attendees were children — who candidly admitted their parents intended to vote for the BJP. Even among communities that welcomed Congress leaders warmly, many privately acknowledged they would still vote for the BJP.

BJP’s Strategy: Organization Over Optics

In contrast, the BJP demonstrated tight coordination between its cadre and the RSS. In every constituency, trained “migratory teams” of workers were managing booth-level logistics with clockwork precision. Their focus was simple: get voter slips to households and ensure booth agents were well-prepared.

Sensing anti-incumbency against Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the BJP tactically removed his image from campaign material, highlighting instead ordinary citizens — youth, farmers, and women — benefiting from government schemes. Posters emphasized transparency (“jobs without bribery”), farmer support (“MSP on 24 crops”), and women empowerment (“benefits of all welfare schemes delivered”).

In the final ten days of campaigning, the BJP unleashed its full force. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held four major rallies, joined by party chief JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and several chief ministers including Yogi Adityanath. The BJP held over 150 public meetings, more than double Congress’s 70.

The result: Congress’s “We’re coming back” narrative lost steam as BJP reframed the conversation around dynastic politics and reminded voters of Hooda’s alleged bias toward his home district, Rohtak. Voters across other regions complained that Hooda’s development model benefited only his constituency.

Religion, Rhetoric, and Results

The BJP also skillfully leveraged religious sentiments, with Yogi Adityanath’s fiery speeches creating sharp polarization. The elections coincided with the Navratri festival, amplifying the impact of the party’s cultural messaging.
While Congress attempted to use farmer anger and the wrestlers’ protest against the BJP, the narrative backfired as many voters viewed these movements as politically motivated. PM Modi’s emotional defense of the armed forces and his emphasis on respect for the military during the Palwal rally helped neutralize discontent over the Agniveer scheme.

Villagers consistently praised the BJP government for its direct benefit transfers, transparency, and employment initiatives. Women voters cited improved safety and empowerment, while many families proudly associated themselves with the slogan “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.”

The So-Called “Vote Theft”

Rahul Gandhi’s recent allegations that entire households had hundreds of fake voters have been disputed by locals, who clarified that these were simply large joint families spanning multiple generations. In Rai constituency, the claim about a “Brazilian model’s photo” being misused also fell flat, as local women confirmed they had voted personally and were unaware of any such controversy.

In short, while voter list errors are a legitimate concern, branding them as “vote theft” without hard proof seems more a reflection of frustration than fact. The ground reality was that BJP’s disciplined organization, sharp strategy, and well-executed campaign outmatched Congress’s confusion, complacency, and internal chaos.

Ultimately, Rahul Gandhi may have titled his exposé the “H-Files” — but perhaps the “H” stands less for Haryana and more for Hooda.