The Congress on Saturday accepted defeat in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand assembly elections and said the party will "introspect on the reasons for the loss in the two states and rededicate ourselves to strengthening it."
Even though it congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah for the victories in these two states, the Congress hit out at them by saying that the election results in Punjab, Goa and Manipur were a "lesson to those who never tired of repeatedly harping on Congress-mukt Bharat".
The Congress said it hoped the BJP will shift from its narrative of 'shamshan-kabristan' (cremation ground and graveyard) and instead talk of development.
"The Congress is indebted and humbled by the shining victory in Punjab as also near-majority in Goa and Manipur. We are confident of forming the government in all the three states. The Congress has also won the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat by a decisive margin of nearly two lakh votes," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjwewala.
"On behalf of Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and the entire Congress leadership, we thank the voters and party workers of Punjab, Goa and Manipur for electing the Congress and reposing faith in its ideals and policies," he added.
Talking about the results in Punjab, Goa and Manipur, Surjewala said: "People have proved that there is a yawning gap between truth and empty rhetoric. The Congress lives in the hearts and minds of people of India and victory in the three states has proved it."
"We congratulate the BJP, PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah on the victory in Uttrakhand and Uttar Pradesh. We bow before the verdict of people of the two states.
"We will introspect on the reasons for the loss in these two states and rededicate ourselves to strengthening the Congress and being the watchdog of aspirations of the people," said Surjewala.
"We hope that the BJP will now shift the narrative from 'shamshan-kabristan' and politics of acronyms to politics of development and brotherhood, which is intrinsic to the Ganga-Jamuni culture of UP."
He said the party hoped much needed and promised relief will be provided to farmers by waiving off loans, cost plus 50 per cent profit as minimum support price for crops, jobs for the youth and ushering in a new era of industrialisation.
The Congress said it recognises its historical and future responsibility in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
"We stand committed to rebuilding the party organisation and win the fight for people's hearts and minds. We also thank all the workers and leaders of Congress and Samajwadi Party in UP as also Congress workers in Uttarakhand for carrying forward the election campaign in a spirited fashion and with a rare zeal and dedication," he added.