The two defining aspects of this Haryana election were Jats and jalebis—both heavily leaned upon by the Congress. However, current trends reveal that this strategy did not yield the desired results.

Gohana’s famous jalebis even found their way into the campaign trail, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi mentioning them in his speeches. He spoke of increasing production and exports of the sweet treat, an idea that was later mocked by BJP leaders.

In the early hours of vote counting, Congress supporters in Delhi were seen celebrating with jalebis as the party initially took a lead. But as the day progressed, the BJP clawed back and soon surged past the opposition. Now, it’s the BJP’s turn to celebrate, and they have chosen jalebis for their victory party, a clear message to the Congress and Rahul Gandhi.

Speaking at a rally in Gohana, Gandhi had displayed a box of jalebis from the well-known shop of Mathu Ram Halwai, suggesting that mass production and exports of the delicacy could create more jobs. He claimed this move would help traders who had suffered under policies like demonetization and GST.

However, his remarks drew sharp criticism from BJP leaders, with many saying he was disconnected from reality. Senior BJP figure Ravi Shankar Prasad commented that while he also enjoys Gohana’s jalebis, Gandhi’s idea to export them lacked understanding. According to Prasad, Gandhi’s speechwriters could have done a better job.

This wasn’t the first time Gohana’s jalebis were mentioned in political discourse. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also referenced them, taking a dig at the opposition’s leadership plans during a campaign event.

The origin of the famous Gohana jalebis dates back to 1958, when Matu Ram started the business, which is now managed by his grandsons Raman and Neeraj Gupta. Their jalebis, made from pure desi ghee and weighing approximately 250 grams each, have been a beloved local specialty for decades.

The Congress's focus on Jats and jalebis may not have turned the tide in the election, but the BJP is now enjoying the spoils of victory—celebrating with the very symbol the opposition tried to claim.