IN CLOSE DEFEAT, A WIN FOR RAHUL

The Congress failed to dethrone the BJP in Gujarat but a creditable performance on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home turf is a boost for its newly elected president Rahul Gandhi. Party leaders hailed it as validation of the Congress president’s leadership qualities and organisational skills.

At the end of the counting of votes in perhaps the most crucial electoral battle after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress not only significantly increased its tally and vote share but also restricted the BJP below the three-digit figure in the 182member assembly.

The Congress won 77 seats, up 16 from 2012, and secured 41.4% of the votes polled, which was about two percentage points more than its share in the previous assembly elections.

In the absence of a credible local face, the 47-year-old Rahul spearheaded the party’s campaign, crisscrossing the western state for more than two months. During 22 days of campaigning that started on September 25, he addressed nearly 150 rallies and corner meetings. He also managed to stitch important alliances with Patidar face Hardik Patel and OBC leader Alpesh Thakor.

An agile, re-energised Congress performed well, particularly in Saurashtra and north Gujarat, despite organisational weaknesses that had prompted the party to hire people for booth-level management in almost all the 182 constituencies.

As results started coming in, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met Rahul, who later left for Parliament. Accepting the verdict,

You (party workers) are different than those you fought... you fought anger with dignity... Congress’s greatest strength is its decency RAHUL GANDHI, Congress president

Rahul tweeted, “My Congress brothers and sisters, you have made me very proud. You are different than those you fought because you fought anger with dignity. You have demonstrated to everyone that the Congress’ greatest strength is its decency and courage.” The remarks were an apparent reference to the vitriolic poll campaign witnessed during the elections.

Gujarat was the first real test for Rahul, who took over the reins of the 132-year-old party last week, and a good show has given a sound start to his new innings. The loss in Himachal Pradesh was not unexpected, given that it is traditionally a swing state where the government changes after every five years. Congress leaders virtually jostled to give Rahul credit for the improved performance in Gujarat, where the party has been out of power since 1998.