CM Saini: Congress lost to its own leaders, not vote theft
Synopsis
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini fired back at Congress on 8 October 2026, saying the party's own leaders — not vote theft — are responsible for its electoral losses, escalating the post-election blame war in Haryana.
Key Takeaways
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini posted on X on 8 October 2026 rejecting Congress's vote-theft narrative.
His Hindi statement translates to: 'No vote theft; it was Congress's own leaders who defeated Congress.' Congress has alleged electoral irregularities, particularly following the October 2024 Haryana Assembly election won by BJP for a third consecutive term.
Saini's counter-argument centres on Congress's internal factionalism and leadership disputes as the real cause of its defeats.
The post includes a video, likely illustrating instances of Congress internal conflict in Haryana.
A pointed counter-narrative landed in Haryana politics on Thursday, 8 October 2026, as Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini took to X to dismiss Congress's allegations of electoral malpractice — turning the charge squarely back on the opposition party itself.
Saini's post, in Hindi, was blunt: 'वोट चोरी नहीं, कांग्रेस नेताओं ने ही कांग्रेस को हराया...' — 'No vote theft; it was Congress's own leaders who defeated Congress.' The ellipsis carried all the weight of an unfinished accusation.
The vote-theft claim Congress has been pushing
Congress has periodically alleged irregularities in Haryana electoral contests, particularly following the October 2024 Haryana Assembly election in which the BJP secured a third consecutive term despite most pre-poll surveys predicting a Congress win. The party raised objections over Electronic Voting Machine integrity and booth-level discrepancies — a line it has continued to press in the months since.
Saini's rebuttal pivots away from defending the electoral machinery and instead points the finger inward at Congress: the argument that internal rebellion, factionalism, and leadership feuds cost the party more votes than any external factor ever could.
Saini's implicit message — and what it signals
The framing is a well-worn but effective political counterpunch. By attributing Congress's losses to its own house — rebel candidates, seat-distribution disputes, public infighting — Saini reframes the narrative from 'rigged system' to 'broken party'. It is a direct challenge to Congress to answer for its internal contradictions before blaming institutions.
The post accompanies a video, the contents of which are not independently verifiable from the post alone, but likely amplifies the argument with visual evidence of Congress internal discord — a format Saini has used in earlier political messaging.
With Haryana politics remaining charged well into 2026, the exchange signals that the BJP is in no mood to concede the post-election narrative ground — and that Saini, as the face of Haryana's ruling party, intends to keep the pressure on Congress to account for its own failures before levelling institutional blame.
Point of View
It weaponises Congress's well-documented internal fissures. The strategy shifts public attention from systemic questions about electoral integrity toward the opposition's own credibility problem. For Congress, the challenge is acute — every high-profile rebel candidacy or factional spat becomes ammunition for exactly this kind of counter-messaging. As Haryana moves deeper into the 2026 political cycle, the party that controls the post-election story will shape voter memory heading into future contests.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini say about vote theft?
CM Saini said there was no vote theft and that Congress's own leaders were responsible for the party's electoral defeats in Haryana, posting this on X on 8 October 2026.
Why is Congress alleging vote theft in Haryana?
Congress has raised allegations of electoral irregularities, including concerns about Electronic Voting Machines, following the October 2024 Haryana Assembly election in which BJP won a third consecutive term despite pre-poll surveys favouring Congress.
Who is Nayab Singh Saini?
Nayab Singh Saini is the Chief Minister of Haryana and a senior BJP leader who took charge after the party's October 2024 election victory.
What is the BJP's argument against Congress's electoral fraud claims?
BJP, through leaders like CM Saini, argues that Congress's losses stem from its own internal factionalism, rebel candidates, and leadership disputes — not from any external tampering with the electoral process.
What was the result of the 2024 Haryana Assembly election?
The BJP won the October 2024 Haryana Assembly election, securing a third consecutive term in power, a result that surprised most pre-poll surveys which had predicted a Congress victory.
