New Delhi, February 22 – The surprising exit of former Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah due to "humiliation" within the party has once again brought attention to Congress's perennial decline and its failures, particularly those of the party's leadership, in preventing veteran leaders from leaving and in resolving factional disputes that have recently become the main reasons for its electoral setbacks.
In many states, the Congress has become marginalized, plagued by internal disputes and a lack of trust from its allies.
The party's leadership, often seen as the last resort in resolving difficult situations, has failed to act decisively, likely due to its perceived "inertia and delay" in decision-making, which has contributed to the party's continued decline.
Over the past five years alone, numerous instances highlight Congress's failures and setbacks under Rahul Gandhi's leadership. Not only did the party perform poorly in elections, but there were also intense infighting within its state units, an inability to reconcile differences, and a failure to forge alliances with regional leaders.
The Siddaramaiah-DK Shivakumar power struggle in Karnataka is the latest example of open factionalism within the Congress, which has been ongoing for months, but the leadership has failed to bring peace between the warring factions. Gandhi's meeting with Shivakumar also didn't yield significant results, as reports suggest the "rebellion" is far from over.
Several instances illustrate how the Congress leadership has been "wanting" in dealing with these predicaments. Instead of taking decisive action, the leadership has allowed state units to handle "difficult situations" independently. This pattern has been observed across the country.
In Himachal Pradesh, two factions led by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Pratibha Singh engaged in a power struggle over the state party president post in 2025 and even held several meetings in Delhi to reach a resolution. The party dissolved its state unit, leading to a scramble for the top position, and the leadership even considered a formula of one state president and four working presidents to balance the factions.
The situation in Delhi and NCR is similarly dire, with the party's influence significantly diminished.
Despite having ruled Delhi for 15 years under Sheila Dikshit, the party has been out of power for 15 years, and its performance in the 2025 Delhi elections highlights its current state.
In neighboring Haryana, the BJP had a golden opportunity in 2024 to overthrow the BJP government, but internal rivalries undermined the party's chances of revival. The groupings led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja failed to capitalize on the pre-election atmosphere.
In Punjab, the chronic factionalism from 2022 to 2026 has weakened the party's prospects. The bitter conflict between Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu put pressure on the central leadership, prompting it to intervene after initially delaying action. Charanjit Singh Channi took over, but the damage was already done, and the situation proved too difficult to recover from.
Uttar Pradesh, with its two Gandhi-dominated constituencies, also reflects the party's dire situation. The party dissolved its state unit in 2024, hoping for a turnaround, but it has largely failed to regain its position.
In the North-Eastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, the party remains deeply divided.
Former Assam Congress chief Borah resigned from the party shortly before the upcoming elections, citing "insult and neglect" from the leadership, and has joined the BJP. Similarly, Gandhi's attempts to persuade him were unsuccessful.
In West Bengal, another state heading to polls in 2026, the Trinamool Congress has marginalized the Congress, its regional ally. Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool has rejected the party's overtures to form a coalition.
In the 2025 Jharkhand Assembly elections, the Congress fought alongside the JMM, but this ultimately failed, as the JMM accused the Congress of betrayal.
In the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, the Congress and RJD mounted a strong campaign, but the incumbent government maintained its position, making the Congress appear as a liability rather than an asset. This pattern has continued in previous elections.
In Odisha, the PCC remains plagued by the departure of key leaders. Despite a poor showing in the 2024 Assembly elections, the state unit remains in a precarious state.
In the Western belt, the Congress's internal struggles have hindered its revival.
In Rajasthan, the Ashok Gehlot government was ousted in 2023, largely due to the conflict between Chief Minister Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot. Various reports highlighted the open discord and its impact on the party's prospects in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
In Gujarat, the grand old party has failed to challenge the over two-decade dominance of the BJP government. The Central leadership even doubted the credentials of its own party leaders in the state, with some claiming they were working for the ruling dispensation.
In Maharashtra, the party's strength and presence have diminished over time due to the departure of veteran and high-profile leaders. The central leadership adopted a wait-and-see approach while key leaders left the party.
In Tamil Nadu, which is headed for polls this year, the Congress is facing a fierce fight with the BJP, and the alliance between the DMK and the Congress is strained due to seat-sharing disagreements.