Why Congress Keeps Losing Elections: Mumtaz Patel Points Out 3 Key Reasons

Ahmedabad: Following the Mahagathbandhan’s poor performance in the Bihar elections, senior Congress leaders sidelined after the party winning only six seats are openly questioning the central leadership. Now, Mumtaz Patel, daughter of the late Congress stalwart Ahmed Patel, has sharply criticized the party’s strategy and advisors.

In an interview, Mumtaz Patel raised concerns over why Congress continues to lose elections despite holding around 20% of the vote share nationwide. She stressed that the party has become centralized in the hands of a few, disconnected from ground realities, and highlighted the urgent need for change.

1. Leaders Detached from Ground Realities

Mumtaz Patel said the party can no longer function as it did 20–30 years ago and is facing a different set of opponents today. She warned against making excuses for Bihar’s defeat and urged self-reflection. According to her, leaders disconnected from grassroots issues are responsible for repeated losses, yet such individuals continue to be rewarded. She emphasized that loyal ground-level workers, who stand by the party through thick and thin, have long awaited electoral success.

2. Rahul Gandhi Surrounded by Wrong Advisors

Mumtaz Patel highlighted that the current advisors of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi might not be the right ones, as their guidance has failed to deliver electoral victories. She stressed the need for a strategic overhaul, recalling the era when her father Ahmed Patel led Congress to repeated successes with strong alliances and mutual respect among coalition partners. Today’s situation, she noted, is the exact opposite.

3. Relying on Outdated Strategies Against Modi

Mumtaz Patel expressed concern that despite Congress having a widespread vote bank, its outdated methods are insufficient to counter Prime Minister Modi’s rise. She urged the party to adapt its working style and implement major changes to effectively leverage its base. In the recent Bihar elections, the India alliance secured only 35 seats, with Congress’s tally falling drastically from 19 to 6 seats.

Mumtaz Patel’s candid remarks underline the urgent need for internal reform and strategic modernization if Congress hopes to regain its footing in Indian politics.