Despite its best efforts, the Congress Party has committed a gaffe on the Ayodhya verdict. Stung by the adverse reaction it got for its confused stand on the abrogation of Article 370, the Congress Party had held several meetings before the Ayodhya verdict and has even directed its workers to vent their feelings only after the High Command gives out its opinion. It wanted its leaders not to speak to the media. In fact, one such Congress spokesperson, who had arrived at a TV channel studio, had to go back hastily after he came to know about the party diktat.

Yet, despite its best efforts, the party's mouthpiece National Herald has published an article that questioned the verdict and exposed the Congress Party's internal confusion. The website of the National Herald published an article by anti-BJP activist Aakar Patel, which questioned the Supreme Court's decision and said the verdict was similar to what the RSS and VHP have been advocating. Every media house and the BJP have immediately highlighted this and wrote articles about it. Meanwhile, the Congress began to be trolled on the social media. Realising that the things were getting out of hand, the National Herald immediately posted an apology and took down the controversial article.

While the Congress response otherwise was more matured and more nuanced this time, National Herald post played the spoiler in the game.