Chandigarh: With an eye on the 2027 Punjab assembly elections, the Congress has initiated a constituency-specific strategy aimed at bolstering its organizational network, consolidating traditional support bases, and countering the expanding political footprint of rivals, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in certain regions.
Deliberations and Internal Assessment
The Congress high command has held discussions with state leaders in New Delhi to devise a plan for the upcoming polls, informed by feedback from an internal assessment of the party's position across Punjab. Sources indicated that the exercise identified constituencies where the party is organizationally weak, seats requiring intensive political intervention, and areas where shifting political equations could pose fresh challenges.
Grassroots Outreach and Booth-Level Rebuilding
As part of the strategy, the party intends to appoint active constituency in-charges and intensify grassroots public outreach campaigns in assembly segments where it is lagging. Emphasis is being placed on rebuilding booth-level organizational structures in constituencies where the party machinery has weakened or become inactive.
Sources said the Congress leadership has categorized constituencies into multiple segments, including seats won by the party in 2022 that need to be defended, constituencies where it remains competitive but requires stronger mobilization, seats likely to witness triangular contests, and segments requiring extensive organizational rebuilding. The party is focusing on consolidating support in constituencies where it enjoys a traditional voter base but lost the election in 2022. Leaders have been instructed not to take voter goodwill for granted and instead work to convert it into sustained and structured outreach programs.
Countering BJP's Growing Presence
A key area of concern during the deliberations was the BJP's growing presence in parts of Punjab. While the BJP remains a minor player in the state at present, Congress leaders emphasized the need to counter its rise in constituencies where it is emerging as a significant third force. Particular attention is being paid to the Kandi belt, comprising Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, and Ropar districts, where the BJP has sought to expand its influence.
The BJP's statewide vote share rose from 6.6% in the 2022 assembly elections to 18.6% in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In the 2024 polls, the BJP finished first in 24 assembly segments, despite not winning a parliamentary seat. In comparison, Congress's vote share rose from 23% in 2022 to 26.3% in 2024. Both these figures pale in comparison to its showing in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, when its vote share was 40.1%. The BJP's traditional support base in Punjab is concentrated in urban constituencies with a sizeable Hindu population, particularly in and around Pathankot, Mukerian, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar, and Batala. Congress leaders believe that strengthening the party's organizational presence and voter outreach in these areas will be crucial to preventing any further expansion of the BJP's electoral footprint.
Candidate Selection and Community Consolidation
Candidate selection also featured prominently in the discussions. Sources said the party is likely to prioritize candidates with a strong local connect, organizational acceptability, and a proven grassroots presence. In constituencies with a sizeable Hindu population, the focus is expected to be on leaders who enjoy broader support among those voters, while in scheduled caste reserved seats, preference will be given to influential SC leaders with strong community networks.
The Congress is also seeking to consolidate its traditional support among SC voters and rural Jat Sikh communities, which have historically formed an important part of its electoral base. Party leaders believe that selecting credible candidates with deep roots in local communities will be crucial to regaining lost ground and mounting an effective challenge to the serving Aam Aadmi Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal in rural areas.
