Cong busted Modi model, BJP’s talk of vikas: Rahul
GUJARAT VISIT Congress chief says they have cornered the saffron party on all quarters
AHMEDABAD: Congress has busted BJP’s talk of “vikas (development) and Modi model”, party president Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday, returning to Gujarat within five days of a loss in the assembly elections.
“We lost the elections, but we have won. This is the reality... Now they cannot talk of vikas and (PM Narendra) Modi model,” Gandhi said at public meeting in Ahmedabad, highlighting the Congress’ best poll performance in the state since 1990.
“We won because they (BJP) fought with anger, with money, police, chief ministers from various states, industrialists. We had only truth. We stood against this and showed it to entire country that Congress can fight and win.”
The Congress won 77 seats in the recently concluded elections, 16 more than its 2012 tally in the 182-member assembly. The BJP regained power, bagging 99 seats, 16 down from its 2012 showing.
“Three months ago, it was seen as if the Congress would not be even able to give a fight in Gujarat. But we cornered the BJP on all quarters,” said Gandhi.
The Congress president said his challenge in the run-up to the polls was to give confidence to the Gujarat Congress that it could win. “And I am happy that you believed 70% that we can win.We are now confident. Now, we can change the result of Lok Sabha and the next assembly elections.”
Gandhi said the shortfall Congress faced could be due to “some 5 to 6% people” not working for the party.
He also congratulated Vijay Rupani for being chosen as the chief minister again.
Under fire from BJP leaders for temple visits across Gujarat ahead of the assembly elections, Gandhi marked his return to the state by praying at Somnath temple at Prabhas Patan town in the morning.
During the campaign, Uttar Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath had described Gandhi’s visits to temples as “just a pretence”.
The Congress has dismissed criticism of Gandhi’s temple visits, and said the party was not trying to portray a “soft Hindutva” face or play a “Hindu card”.
Meanwhile, the saffron party announced on Saturday that the new B JP government in Gujarat, under the leadership of Vijay Rupani, will be sworn in on December 26.
TWITTER JIBE ON BJP
In a Hollywood movie inspired statement, Gandhi tweeted on Saturday: “If BJP had a film franchise it would be called Lie Hard.”
The jibe came a day after he slammed the BJP as a party whose foundation was based on lies. He alleged the BJP campaigned on 2G spectrum allocation to discredit the UPA government ahead of the 2014 elections and then, during the Gujarat polls, raised a controversy over a meeting between Congress leaders and Pakistani officials.