Rahul Gandhi lauds party's performance, claims decency its strength

Accepting the people's verdict in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, Congress President Rahul Gandhi struck a conciliatory note and lauded party workers for putting up a fight with "dignity and courage".

Though it lost, in what can be considered a moral victory, the party has managed to rake in 80 seats, the maximum since it last held power in the state in 1995.

"My Congress brothers and sisters, you have made me very proud. You are different than those you fought because you fought anger with dignity. You have demonstrated to everyone that the Congress's greatest strength is its decency and courage," he said on Twitter.

He said that the Congress party accepts the verdict of the people and congratulates the new governments in both states.

"I thank the people of Gujarat and Himachal with all my heart for the love they showed me," he said.

Party communication department chief Randeep Surjewala took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra asking him "not to dream of Congress Mukta" India and took potshots at BNP, saying Rahul has pushed the BJP in the trap of 99, an allusion to the 99 seats that the BJP looked set to win. In Hindi, it translates into getting trapped in a vicious cycle that never end.

CONG’S UPTICK

• Congress has managed to rake in 80 seats, the maximum since it last held power in the state in 1995.
   
• Rahul lauded party workers for putting up a fight with “dignity and courage”