Congress fought anger with dignity

After it became clear the BJP is winning the Gujarat and the Himachal Pradesh elections, Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted saying the Congress "fought anger with dignity" and complimented his party workers for campaigning "decently"

These comments clearly referred to the fact that the Gandhi scion believes the BJP played dirty. They were also a reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing senior Congress leader Manmohan Singh and others in the party of colluding with Pakistan to ensure the BJP loses in Gujarat.

Rahul also said the party accepts the people's verdict.

Amit Shah, president of BJP gestures as he celebrates with party supporters after the initial poll results. Photo: AFP, Reuters

In Gujarat, the saffron party is ahead in 99 of 182 seats. The Congress is ahead in 79. The BJP needs only 92 to win, which it appears is a target it will make.

However, if these trends continue, the BJP will have won a lot lower seats than the 115 it did in the last Assembly elections in 2012. By comparison, the Congress would have gained seats compared to the last go-around in 2012, when it won 61 seats.

In Himachal Pradesh, the BJP is ahead in 44 seats and the Congress in 21.

Following a better-than-expected performance in the Gujarat assembly elections, Congress yesterday termed the results of the Gujarat assembly elections a "moral victory" for the party.

"Whatever the results, it was a moral win for Congress. It was a win for Rahul ji's issue-based campaign. BJP in the home state of PM Modi ji and Amit Shah ji is struggling to cross even 100", Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said.