Modi concedes defeat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conceded defeat yesterday for his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in key state elections held ahead of national polls next year. “We accept the people’s mandate with humility. I thank the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for giving us the opportunity to serve these states. The BJP governments in these states worked tirelessly for the welfare of the people,” Modi said on Twitter. Meanwhile, BJP president Amit Shah congratulated Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao for his Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS)’s victory in the state. “Congratulations to Shri K Chandrashekar Rao ji and TRS for the impressive victory in Telangana assembly elections,” he said in a tweet. However, he kept mum on the results of the Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Buoyed by the massive victory, Rao earlier in the day said he would play a crucial role in national politics and work to evolve an alternative to both BJP and Congress with a new model.