BJP leaders laud people's mandate, Congress leaders introspect over loss

With the BJP-led NDA securing an absolute majority in the nine-phased 69-day-long elections for the 16th Lok Sabha by claiming 337 seats, and the ruling UPA only managing to win a dismal 58 seats, leaders from across the Indian political spectrum sought to give their assessments of what contributed to the former's win and the latter's loss on Saturday.

Of the NDA's 337 seats, the BJP won 283 seats. Among the other 15 parties in the coalition, only the SHS (19 seats) and the TDP (16) managed to achieve double digit figures.

In contrast, in the ruling UPA, the Congress won 43, its worst electoral performance since 1977. The remaining nine members of the ruling coalition could manage only single digit results, with the NCP coming second with five seats, and the RJD with four.

 

In Vishakhapatnam, senior BJP leader K. Hari Babu said: 'Both the BJP and the TDP have got good vote counts in the assembly and at the centre. The central government will surely assist our state after bifurcation. All we want is the development of Visakhapatnam city."

In Hamirpur, former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said: "It is a win of the people of our country. hey have said that there is no wave for Narendra Modi. However, I must say that the wave of Virbhadra (incumbent chief minister) is finished now."

His son and emerging BJP leader Anurag Thakur said: "I want to thank the voters of this country. We have got a clear mandate."

He, however, accused the Election Commission of partiality in conducting the polls.

"The election commission should have played an impartial role," he said.

In Darjeeling, senior BJP leader S.S.Ahluwalia said: "The results have come in. People needed a change and you can see the change. The entire country wanted a change. They (Congress) have done a lot of mistakes. We will try to fulfill all the promises which we have made to the people."

In Ranchi, former Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda said of the NDA's victory: "It has enhanced the moral of the party workers. I think there will be a solution to the problems of Jharkhand."

In Saran, Bihar, BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who defeated former chief minister Rabri Devi, said: "Saran has created a history. The people used to believe that Rabri Devi could never lose an election from here. I think the people of Bihar have burnt the ego of the RJD and the JD (U)."

In Jhansi, Madhya Pradesh, senior BJP leader and former chief minister Uma Bharti said: "I want to thank the voters and our party workers. We want to fulfill all those promises which we have made."

In Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, former chief minister and union minister Shanta Kumar said: "The BJP has achieved a decisive victory. This is a new chapter in the history of India, which has begun. After 30 years, a single party has got a clear mandate. The people has shown faith in us."

In Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, BJP leader Yogi Adityanath said: "I think the people of our country have won. We will try to fulfill our promises. I am very thankful to the people of Gorakhpur, who have chosen me for the fifth time in a row."

In Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, senior BJP leader Kalraj Mishra said: "I would like to thank the people of Deoria. There was a wave for Narendra Modi and people have a lot of expectations from us. The people has joined hands for this and have given me their love and blessings."

In Ludhiana, Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and eminent lawyer H.S.Phoolka said of his party's good performance in the state: " We have proved that for the people of Punjab, that the distribution of money or alcohol does not matter. We have contested the elections according to the law. We have not tried to convince people to vote for us (AAP) by distributing alcohol or money."

In Chalakkudy, Kerala, Congress leader P.C. Chacko said: "We will make an honest assessment. We will reorganize our party. We are quite certain that we have a role to play in the future of our country. The BJP has won a convincing victory. We will wait for them to fulfill their promises.

I respect the mandate of the people."

In Ranchi, Jharkhand, former union minister Subodh Kant Sahay said: "The Nehru-Gandhi family will continue to lead the Congress Party. This win is due to the marketing of Modi. We failed to project our achievements. Our leaders should have been more aggressive. We failed to defend in the war launched against us by the BJP."

In Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said: "Firstly, I want to express my gratitude to the people of our state (for giving the Biju Janata Dal a fourth consecutive term in office). Our presence in parliament is strong. I will continue to take up our demand for special status for Odisha with the central government."

Congress leader K.V. Thomas said: " It is democracy. We accept this verdict. Earlier, the Congress had a set back and we made a come back. The Congress is a strong organization."

In Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Harish Rawat said: "I think we were not able to convince the people. I take the responsibility for the loss. I accept this. I think the people of our nation will realise that Dr. Manmohan Singh was a better prime minister. I want to congratulate the voters. I would always want our nation to prosper.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said in Shimla: "Due to the Modi wave across the country, the Congress Party had to face defeat."

Singh congratulated Modi for his win and expected him to do good for the nation.

He also said that he was not thinking of resigning from his post because of the electoral loss, and added that Assam Chief Minister Tarun gogoi may have his own personal compulsions for resigning.

He assured the people of the state that there would be stable government that would complete its five year term.

In Nanded, Maharashtra, former chief minister Ashok Chavan said: "I have won the election from this constituency. We will have to learn from our mistakes. I think the Congress high command will take a serious note of the loss. Assembly elections are due in three months and we need to learn from our mistakes."

In Gulbarga, Karnataka, outgoing Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said: "It is not my win, but rather, it is the people of Gulbarga who have won. I would like to thank the voters of Gulbarga. They have shown faith in me. There was a wave for the BJP, but the people chose me."

In Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan said: "The BJP has got the benefit of anti-incumbency. They have used the communal cards to achieve this.They have now got a clear mandate. I do not think this is a secular win. A ban was imposed on me by the election commission and I was restricted in many things. Let us see what they (the BJP-led NDA) are going to do in the next six months.

Friday's result was the largest anti-incumbency vote in India's history. It was driven by a desire for change and anger against corruption and the sluggish economy fanned directly or indirectly by the Congress-led UPA regime, which was in power for a decade.

It also represented the people's hope for a better India under BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi's watch.