– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi, June 5: In its first reaction to the 2024 General Election results, the Congress described the verdict as a moral and political defeat for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who sought votes in his own name.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former party president Rahul Gandhi held a press conference at the AICC headquarters here last evening. They were joined by Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh, Mukul Wasnik, and Avinash Pande.
Kharge noted that the people of the country had not given an absolute majority to any single party, particularly the BJP, which had sought votes in the name of a single individual. He stated that this was a mandate against Modi and a defeat for a person seeking votes solely in his own name.
Kharge emphasized that the Congress and the INDIA bloc campaigned with a positive agenda, focusing on issues such as inflation, unemployment, farmers’ distress, and the misuse of central agencies. He highlighted how the Congress party’s accounts were frozen, opposition leaders were intimidated, and political parties were broken.
The Congress president specifically mentioned the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi, which galvanized public opinion. He credited the day’s achievement to the united efforts of the INDIA partners and their close coordination.
Kharge stressed that the fight was not over, asserting that the Congress party would continue to protect the Constitution and ensure the proper functioning of Parliament.
Speaking on the occasion, Rahul Gandhi said the Congress party was not only fighting against a political party but also against institutions captured by the BJP and used against political opponents. Displaying a copy of the Constitution, Gandhi stated that the fight was to save it. He recalled realizing long ago that the people of India would rise against the BJP’s abuse of power, such as freezing the Congress party’s bank accounts and imprisoning Chief Ministers. He noted that the people of India had sent a clear message that they did not want leaders like Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
Gandhi especially thanked the poor people of the country for saving the Constitution.
When asked whether the Congress would try to form the government, Gandhi said they would be holding a meeting with the INDIA bloc partners on Wednesday.
