As the Indian National Congress clinches victory in the Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023, defeating the incumbent government of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the INC leaders expressed their happiness and thanked the voters of the state.
Congress President and veteran leader from Karnataka, Mallikarjun Kharge, said that the party thanks the people of Karnataka for putting their trust in the INC. He wrote on Twitter,
"This is truly the victory of the People of Karnataka. They have voted for their progressive future, their welfare and social justice. With folded hands, we thank them for putting their trust in us. Congress party shall implement the 5 guarantees."
He noted the labour into the campaign by Congress leadership and the cadre by saying, "All our Karnataka Congress party workers, state leaders and AICC (All India Congress Committee) office bearers on the ground worked extremely hard to ensure this victory. The collective leadership of the Congress party including Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Shri Rahul Gandhi and Smt. Priyanka Gandhi made it possible."
"The Indian National Congress once again reiterates its solemn commitment to fulfil the aspirations of 6.5 Cr Kannadigas. A transparent, accountable, people friendly and welfare oriented Govt will be formed by the Congress party," he wrote further.
'Shops of Hate Have Closed Down': Rahul Gandhi
Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said, “Nafrat ki baazar band ho gayi hai, mohabbat ki dukaan khul gayi hai” (market of hatred has shut down, shop of love has opened)."
He said,
"I congratulate and thank Karnataka's people and all the Congress leaders and cadre. In this election, on one side there was the power of crony capitalists. On the other side was the poor people's strength. And this strength defeated the power (of the crony capitalists). And we will see this repeating in every other state. The Congress party stood with the Karnataka's poor. We fought on their issues."
He further spoke about the five promises made by the Congress and said that the new government will fulfil them in the first Cabinet meeting itself.
"What I liked the most was that we didn't fight this election with hate or by using uncouth words. We fought with love, with an open heart and the citizens of Karnataka showed that this country prefers love. In Karnataka, the shops of hate have closed down and the shops of love have come up ... We had made five promises to the people of Karnataka. We will fulfil these promises on the first day, in the first Cabinet meeting itself."
'Will Bounce Back in Lok Sabha Elections': Basavaraj Bommai
As the Congress is set to form the next government, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the BJP will do a detailed analysis once all the results are in. He told mediapersons,
"In spite of a lot of efforts put in by the Prime Minister and the BJP workers, we have not been able to make the (majority) mark. Once the full results come, we will do a detailed analysis. We take this result in our stride to come back in Lok Sabha elections."– Basavaraj Bommai
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav welcomed the Karnataka results saying it is a mandate against inflation, unemployment, corruption and hate. He wrote on Twitter,
"The message from Karnataka is that the 'end' of BJP's negative, communal, corrupt, pro-rich, anti-women/youth, socially divisive, propagandistic, individualistic politics has begun. This is a strict mandate of new positive India against inflation, unemployment, corruption and hate."
'A Hard-Won Victory': DK Shivakumar
Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar, who is considered a potential chief minister candidate, told mediapersons that Congress' win is a victory of Karnataka. He stated,
"Congress party's victory is Karnataka's victory – a hard earned one! Our guarantees for our people are the guiding force of our vision for the state and we shall get down to implementation right away. This is a huge mandate for our leaders and workers who have worked hard for this win. My heartfelt congratulations to all!– DK Shivakumar
Adding to the party's thumping victory, Shivakumar too registered a resounding win by polling 1,42,156 votes against his opponent and the Janata Dal (Secular) candidate B Nagaraju's 20,561 votes. Shivakumar retained his Kanakpura seat, winning an assembly election for the eighth consecutive time.
'Accept My Loss': BJP National Gen Secy CT RAVI
BJP's national general secretary and four-time MLA from Chikmagaluru C T Ravi took to Twitter to accept his loss.
"I accept my loss in the assembly elections. I wholeheartedly thank karyakartas and the people of Chikkamagaluru for their support to me all these years. I congratulate all the winning candidates and wish them the very best in the coming days," he wrote.
'Brute Authoritarian and Majoritarian Politics is Vanquished': Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, reacting to the results, said:
"My salutations to the people of Karnataka for their decisive mandate in favour of change!! Brute authoritarian and majoritarian politics is vanquished!! When people want plurality and democratic forces to win, no central design to dominate can repress their spontaneity : that is the moral of the story, lesson for tomorrow."
'Victory of Politics That Unites': Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Congress leader, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to Twitter to laud the Congress' win.
"Heartfelt thanks to the people of Karnataka for giving a historic mandate to the Congress party. This is a victory for your cause. This is a victory for Karnataka giving priority to the idea of progress," she said.
"This is the victory of politics that unites the country. My best wishes to all the hardworking workers and leaders of Karnataka Congress. All your hard work paid off. The Congress party will work diligently to implement the guarantees given to the people of Karnataka. Hail Karnataka, Hail Congress," she added.
'Fight the Bigger Battle in the Coming Elections': Kharge
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, while congratulating the party on its big win, encouraged citizens to "fight the bigger battle in the coming elections."
"You all people should be united like this only then we can win the war and then only the country can be saved. if you want democratic govt everywhere then we've to fight the bigger battle in the coming elections," he said.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)