Karnataka verdict delivers ‘Yes, we can win’ hope to Congress

0
Priyanka Gandhi Vandra

Photo credit Twitter INC

Spread the love

By Manish Anand

New Delhi, May 13: Until a few months ago, a section of Congress leaders wanted Gandhis to step back, or gracefully retire, hand over the reign of leadership of non-Gandhis. On campaign trail of Karnataka Assembly election, Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra invoked her grandmother late Indira Gandhi’s revival of electoral fortune a few decades ago from Chikmagalur in the state.

The people of Karnataka on Saturday administered the perfect curative medicine to Congress by giving a mandate not seen for almost three decades. Congress was cruising to win over 136 Assembly seats in Karnataka which has a total of 224 seats in the Assembly. Not only Congress has staged a comeback, but even the Gandhis have announced their arrival loudly in the national politics.

“The Karnataka verdict has delivered hope to Congress. This is the hope that Congress can win elections. The party had lost this hope. Now, the Congress workers have regained the hope that their party can defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party,” Nadeem Javed, the AICC secretary, told The Raisina Hills over phone from Hyderabad.

Javed, who is also Congress in-charge for Telangana, underlined that the Karnataka verdict marked the commencement of the revival of the party. “You must remember that it was Chikmagalur from where Congress had been set on the path of revival in the 1970s. This Karnataka verdict has done something similar,” added Javed.

A jubilant Rahul Gandhi, former president of Congress, told reporters that the people of Karnataka have shut down shops of hate. His sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had climbed the stairs in Shimla to offer prayers to Zakhu Temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had led a BJP campaign by chanting ‘Jai Bajrang Bali’ in a bid to polarize the electorate.   

While Rahul Gandhi had stayed away from Himachal Pradesh campaign where the party won the election, Vadra was the lead campaigner in the hilly state. She was again a lead campaigner in Karnataka, holding small meetings with women groups to drum up support for the five guarantees of Congress – unemployment allowances for graduates (Rs 3000 per month), diploma holders (Rs 1500 per month), Rs 2000 for women per month, 200 units of free electricity, 10 kg free rice, and free bus rides for women.

With Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka victories, Congress leaders are now upbeat that they can stand on their feed to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.   

About The Author

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Discover more from The Raisina Hills

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading