The people of Hindi heartland have rejected the Congress raising questions about the grand old party's strategy to win elections. What should worry the Congress is that neither its poll guarantees seem to be working in the Hindi heartland nor its strategy to rely heavily on established regional leadership. The assembly election results have once again exposed the inability of the Congress to take on the BJP in a direct contest. The Telangana victory comes as the only compensation for the Congress. It helps the grand old party consolidate its position in the south.