Omar Abdullah's take on the massive mandate for BJP.
Expressing shock over the trends of votes in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state assembly elections, National Conference leader and former Jammu and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that with such grand victory of the saffron party other's must forget the 2019 assembly elections and start planning for 2024. Abdullah took to his twitter handle and said that the trend in Punjab, Goa and Manipur certainly suggest that the BJP isn't unbeatable but shift in strategy is needed from criticism to positive alternate.
While commenting on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) trends in Punjab, Abdullah said that the former has emerged as a player in states outside Delhi but they were believed to be winning Punjab at this time last year.
The Congress is leading in 64 seats in Punjab as of now, giving a major setback to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)- BJP alliance and AAP. The latest trends for the counting of votes for Goa Assembly elections show a lead for the Congress Party.
The Congress is leading on 11 seats, BJP on six, MAG on two, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on one and others on two. BJP crossing the halfway mark in Uttar Pradesh and leading in 282 seats of the 403-member assembly, celebrations have begun and it seems the politically crucial state is all geared up for a saffron Holi this time.
Need tough decisions: Congress
Admitting that the loss in Uttar Pradesh was hurting, the Congress said some fundamental restructuring and tough decisions on strategy were required.
The opposition party congratulated the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their victory in UP and Uttarakhand, highlighted its own gains in Punjab and Goa and said it will introspect on its performance.
"The UP is a bad loss, it hurts...I agree that, in UP, we need fundamental restructuring thinking for the Congress as a whole. These have to be hard, tough decisions about strategy," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.
Party chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said it will introspect on the reasons for the loss in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and will re-dedicate itself to strengthening the party and being the watchdog of people.
"We congratulate the BJP and PM, Sh. Narender Modi, on the victory in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. We bow before the verdict of people of the two states. Congress never arrogates in victory and is not discouraged in defeat.
"Congress will introspect on the reasons for the loss in these two states and re-dedicate itself to strengthening the party and being the watchdog of people of the two states," he said.
Taking a dig at the BJP, Surjewala said these election results are also a lesson to those who are never tired of speaking about 'Congress-mukt Bharat' (Congress-free India).
"We hope that BJP will shift the narrative from 'Shamshan-Kabristan' to the politics of development and brotherhood that is intrinsic to the 'Ganga-Jamuni' culture of UP and will provide the much-needed relief by waiving farmer's loans, market driven MSP for crops, jobs for youth and ushering in a new era of industrialisation," he said.
He said the Congress recognises its historical responsibility in UP and Uttarakhand and will stand committed to rebuilding the party organisation and will win people's hearts and minds.
Another Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad attributed the party's poor show in the politically crucial state to "public mood" and said its performance will be "scrutinised".
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 "Narendra Modi and Omar Abdullah")
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