Congress president Rahul Gandhi yesterday accepted the party’s loss in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat and congratulated the new governments in both states.
“The Congress party accepts the verdict of the people and congratulates the new governments in both states. I thank the people of Gujarat and Himachal with all my heart for the love they showed me,” Gandhi tweeted.
Meanwhile Congress leader P Chidambaram took a swipe at the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Gujarat results, saying the “winner limped across the finish line with a young sprinter close on his heels”.
In another jibe, Chidambaram said in the Gujarat results there was an “electoral victory” - referring to the BJP, and a “political victory” - referring to the Congress.
In tweets, he said: “Congratulations to the BJP, the winner in HP and Gujarat. Best wishes to the new governments. What a victory! In Gujarat, the winner limped across the finish line with a young sprinter close on his heels” - referring to Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
“There is an electoral victory and there is a political victory. Need I say who is the political victor in Gujarat,” he added.
Chidambaram also said: “Congress has returned a morale boosting performance in Gujarat under Rahul Gandhi. The battle is now joined for five states in 2018.”
The Congress yesterday said it has brought the BJP “to its knees” by restricting it to less than 100 seats in Gujarat, and that the election results will have an impact in upcoming polls in other states, including BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The Congress also termed the election results a “moral victory” for the party and said it showed a “mirror of truth to those who are arrogant”.
AICC general secretary in-charge of Gujarat, Ashok Gehlot, said the Gujarat results were neither BJP’s victory, nor Congress’ defeat.
“I feel this is a victory of our issue-based campaign. We see the results that way. No matter who forms the government, this is a moral victory for the Congress,” said Gehlot.
“In Modi and BJP president Amit Shah’s own state, they have been brought down to their knees. Gujarat election results will have its impact in other states like Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and others,” he added.
“They (BJP) had said they would not celebrate if they won less than 150 seats. Now, they are not able to cross even the 100-figure mark. This is not BJP’s victory and not Congress’ defeat,” Gehlot added.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the results have been able to “show a mirror of truth to people with arrogance”, referring to BJP.
“On one hand they are on 99, and on the other we have won around 83-84 (along with allies). This is clear that Rahul Gandhi and Congress have been able to restrict them to below 100. On behalf of Rahul and Congress, we congratulate the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
“BJP won by whisker in Gujarat. We will bring them back to the issues of development from trying to divert attention. We will keep fighting on the issues of people and their aspirations,” said Surjewala.