BJP brought down to its knees in Gujarat, will impact other state polls: Congress

The Congress on Monday 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 Prime Minister Narendra 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 Gandhiji (Congress President) and Congress have been able to restrict them to below 100. On behalf of Rahulji 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.

Surjewala said: "In Gujarat there 22 such seats, in which at least in 10, BJP has won with a margin of 1,000 votes or less. There are 12 such seats that they won by a margin of 3,000 or less. In 2014 Lok Sabha elections the result was 26-0 (in favour of BJP). Congress' vote share was 33.50 per cent and BJP's vote share was 60 per cent."

He also said after the Gujarat elections, Congress' vote share has risen to 41.50 per cent and BJP's vote share has reduced to 49 from 60.

"Six of their ministers have lost to Congress candidates. All Congress MLAs who defected to BJP have lost. In Vadnagar, which is Modiji's hometown, they lost to a Congress candidate. Asha Patel won by a margin of 19,000.

"People are giving a message. In Somath too, BJP lost all four seats. Congress has gained -- from 43 MLAs to 84. Since 1995 for first time they have been reduced to a two-digit figure (99)," he said.

Surjewala also said in Himachal Pradesh BJP's chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal lost the elections and the state BJP chief lost.

"We congratulate them (BJP) for their victory. Both UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have congratulated them. We have lost a morcha (campaign) but not the battle (to fight for people's issues). The kind of love and blessings we received from the people of Gujarat was really surprising," added Surjewala.

--IANS

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