Delivering a severe blow to the BJP in the Hindi heartland months ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress on Tuesday, 11 December, dislodged the saffron party out of power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and has edged close to victory in Madhya Pradesh, where the two parties were locked in a nail-biting contest throughout the day.
The “return” of the Congress to the Hindi heartland was widely covered in all leading dailies. Here is how the front pages of some newspapers looked.
‘For Rahul, A Happy 1st Anniv’
Congress President Rahul Gandhi took over from his mother and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on 11 December, 2017, exactly one year ago. Addressing a press conference after the party’s victory in Rajasthan, Congress leader and a probable chief ministerial candidate – Sachin Pilot – said the victory was a “gift” to Rahul on his first anniversary.
‘Hand On Heartland’
The reverses for the BJP in the Hindi heartland threw wide open the 2019 Lok Sabha elections which until a few months ago appeared to be in the grip of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party.
‘Cong Brings BJP 3 Notches Down’
‘It’s Advantage Congress’
Buoyed by the Congress' good showing in the polls that was dubbed as a semi-final for the 2019 general elections, party president Rahul Gandhi said the outcome is a "clear message" to the Modi government that people are not happy with it and time has come for a change.
‘We’ve a Fight Now’
While political analysts will debate in the coming days the reasons for the BJP's setbacks in three Hindi heartland states, the Congress brain trust has an unambiguous answer – Rahul Gandhi's newfound campaign energy.
Congress president Gandhi, once dubbed by critics as a "reluctant politician", addressed 82 public rallies and seven road shows since 6 October, crisscrossing Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram.
Here’s the Front Pages of a Few Hindi Newspapers
(With inputs from PTI.)
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