The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a landslide victory in the Chhattisgarh urban body elections, winning all 10 mayoral seats. While the BJP celebrates its dominance, the Congress faces internal turmoil, with party members openly expressing their frustration over the defeat. The loss has sparked introspection, dissent and blame-shifting within the party.

Following the defeat, several Congress leaders and workers took to social media to voice their disappointment and question the party’s leadership. Former Raipur MLA Kuldeep Juneja criticised the state leadership, stating, “If the state unit’s leadership remains unchanged, I will stop visiting the party headquarters. The AICC must take corrective action, and I will personally escalate this to Delhi.” His remarks prompted the state unit to issue him a notice for dissent.

Many party members blamed the ticket distribution process, arguing that favoritism led to weak candidate selection. Congress worker Kalpana Sagar highlighted this issue, posting, “The elections in Raipur were fought with the ambition of securing positions for family members, and the result is now evident.” She further criticised the party’s approach to women’s empowerment, stating that a party ignoring its female workers “will not survive for long.”

Another party activist, Amitabh Raja Ghosh, demanded the resignation of Raipur’s city president, holding him accountable for the historic defeat.

Amidst the criticism, some Congress workers acknowledged BJP’s strengths, particularly the organising power of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Party worker Rahul Kar admitted, “The RSS is BJP’s biggest strength. You can criticise it, but you must also acknowledge its role in BJP’s success nationwide.”

Taking advantage of the situation, Chhattisgarh minister Arun Sao mocked the Congress infighting, stating, “People are now enjoying the Congress party’s internal struggle. Their chaos proves they are responsible for their own defeat.”

Sao further highlighted BJP’s rising vote share, noting its steady growth from 46% in the 2023 Assembly elections to 52% in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and now reaching 56% after the urban body elections. He credited the "triple-engine administration" for ensuring Chhattisgarh’s continued development under BJP rule.

While the BJP solidifies its grip over Chhattisgarh’s political landscape, Congress faces a leadership crisis and growing dissatisfaction among party workers. The internal conflict within Congress could impact its future performance, especially if the party fails to address its organisational shortcomings and strategic missteps.