Opposition buoyed by election outcome, congratulates Cong

NEWDELHI: Non-congress Opposition leaders claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s unimpressive showing in the five assembly elections on Tuesday was a clear indication of things to come in next year’s general elections.

The results would help the Opposition consolidate its unity ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, said officials who did not wish to be named.

West Bengal chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been camping here for two days, termed the results “the people’s verdict and victory of the people of this country.”

“Victory of democracy and victory against injustice, atrocities, destruction of institutions, misuse of agencies, no work for poor people, farmers, youth, Dalits, SC, ST, OBC, minorities and general caste,” she said.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu said, “People of all states are antagonistic towards the BJP. Results of these assembly elections will enable formation of a strong alternative to the BJP in the 2019 general elections.”

According to leaders in the Opposition camp, the Congress victories i n Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and its being the single largest party in Madhya Pradesh could make it the rallying point of Opposition unity. “The resurgence of the Congress is a good sign not just for the party, but also for the Opposition as a whole. The Congress would be more comfortable to show its authority and firm up its position as the pivotal force,” said a senior Left leader, who did not wish to be named.

Banerjee called for cherishing “the idea of India for which our freedom fighters laid down their lives”. She added, “Our people and our great institutions must strive to remain independent in the true sense of the word.”

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) dubbed the poll verdict the result of “people’s discontent and anger at the policies followed by the Modi government and the BJP state governments that have imposed unbearable burdens on the people.” CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “These results have shattered the myth of the BJP’S electoral invincibility.”

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader MK Stalin congratulated Congress president Rahul Gandhi. He said, “These results will reinforce our fight against the fascist BJP regime and help in strengthening the grand alliance.”

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan of the Makkal Needhi Maiam said the election results marked “a new beginning”.

Although Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav skipped the Opposition meeting on Monday, he appeared to hint at unity when he tweeted in Hindi after the election results, “When one plus one makes eleven, then many big powers run away.”