Punjab Election results: 3 reasons why Congress lost; Sidhu, Channi fail amid infighting, anti-incumbency

Charanjit Singh Channi from Chamkaur Sahib - Lost. Navjot Singh Sidhu from Amritsar East - Lost. Manpreet Singh Badal from Bathinda Urban - Lost. Charanjit Singh Channi from Bhadaur - Lost.

Along with the defeat of many of its biggest faces, another state slipped out of the Congress' grasp. From a last-minute reshuffle at the top, to picking a Dalit CM - the Congress leadership tried many tactics, but couldn't secure a second term.

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Well before the elections, infighting gripped Congress' Punjab unit, with Navjot Singh Sidhu leading a rebellion against then-CM Amarinder Singh. The tussle culminated in Amarinder quitting as CM, and eventually leaving the party. However, instead of Sidhu, the CM crown passed on to Charanjit Singh Channi.

It was seen as a move to secure the support of the sizeable Dalit population in Punjab. Meanwhile, Sidhu handled the reins of the party's state unit.

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Another tug-of-war erupted over the issue of Congress' CM candidate. After many bouts of infighting, Rahul Gandhi announced Channi as the CM face, claiming that the choice was made after voting of party workers, leaders, and supporters.

Despite the many measures, Congress doesn't seem to have been able to pile the blame for its government's shortcomings on Amarinder Singh, who floated a new outfit - Punjab Lok Congress - for the polls.

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Issues like inaction over the Bargari sacrilege case, and law and order issues seem to have put Congress on the backfoot. Even anger against the BJP over the now-repealed farm laws couldn't be capitalised on by a scattered Congress.

As a slight consolation, Congress was the only party apart from AAP to secure seats in double digits - 18 - while the AAP won 92. All the others like BJP and Akali Dal were reduced to single digits.

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