New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi, a Congress leader, expressed his congratulations to Karnataka's citizens after his party appeared to have won a resounding victory there. "The market of hate has been shut, and shops of love have opened," he told the cheering party workers at the Congress office in New Delhi.
In Karnataka polls, "the power of poor people" have won, he said. "This will be repeated in other states too. The Congress has fought for the issues of the poor," he added, pledging that the party will carry out the five commitments it made during its first cabinet meeting, NDTV reported.
With a lead of about 140 seats, the Congress looks poised to surpass the 120 seats Siddaramaiah, the party's previous chief minister, had predicted. With his party just holding a majority in more than 60 seats out of the 244-member legislature, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai has admitted defeat.
Many in the Congress credited the victory to Rahul Gandhi's 22-day stay in the state while on his Bharat Jodo Yatra. The yatra entered Karnataka on September 30 of last year and travelled approximately 500 kilometres in roughly 22 days through Chamarajanagara, Mysuru, Mandya, Tumkur, Chitradurga, Bellary, and Raichur.
"It was the Sanjeevini for the party. It energised the organisation and instilled a deep sense of unity and solidarity among leaders and workers," senior party leader Jairam Ramesh was quoted as saying.
"The Bharat Jodo Yatra started a particular narrative in Indian politics which the people of India were waiting for," said Pawan Khera.
The triumph in the Karnataka Assembly elections, which took place before the general election of next year, has thrilled the Congress.
Siddaramaiah described the outcomes as a mandate against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said, "The result of this election is a stepping stone to the Lok Sabha election. I hope all non-BJP parties come together and see that BJP is defeated and I also hope Rahul Gandhi may become PM of the country".