BJP ‘Usurped’ Power, Cong Will Win Back Trust: Rahul on NE Defeat

Gandhi said the party would now focus on “winning back the trust of the people”.

After facing a rout in Nagaland and Tripura and swinging on a hung verdict in Meghalaya, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, on Monday, 5 March, said the party “respects the mandate of the people”.

The Congress chief also hit out at the BJP, accusing it of “usurping” power through proxy in Meghalaya, and using “big money” to create an “opportunistic alliance”.

In a tweet, Gandhi said:

The Congress party respects the mandate of the people of Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya.

We are committed to strengthening our party across the North East and to winning back the trust of the people.

My sincere thanks to each and every Congress worker who toiled for the party.

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) March 5, 2018

Thanking party workers, Gandhi said that the Congress would now focus on strengthening their base across the Northeast and “winning back the trust of the people”. The Congress chief also alleged that the BJP is “obsessed” with “grabbing” power and has shown “utter disregard” for the mandate of the people of Meghalaya.

With just 2 seats, the BJP has usurped power in Meghalaya, through a proxy.

Like in Manipur & Goa, showing utter disregard for the mandate of the people. Obsessed instead with grabbing power, using big money to create an opportunistic alliance.#DemocracyDemonetised

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) March 5, 2018

Gandhi was away from India on 3 March, when the results for the three states were declared, having decided to travel to Italy to be with his grandmother over the Holi weekend.

My Nani is 93. She’s the kindest soul ever. This Holi weekend, I’m going to surprise her! I can’t wait to give her a hug.... #HappyHoli to all of you. Have a joyful celebration..

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) March 1, 2018

In Tripura, the Congress won no seats, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) paving the way to form government in what was once a CPI(M) bastion.

In Nagaland too, the Congress won no seats, with hardly 2.1 percent of the voters reportedly opting for the party.

Despite winning the most number of seats in Meghalaya – 21– the Congress will not be forming the government, with the BJP allying with the second largest party National People’s party, to sit at the throne. Top party leaders Ahmed Patel and Kamal Nath were rushed to Shillong to talk to regional parties in a bid to form a government but to no avail.

This development has been attributed to a severe anti-Congress stance being taken by the other parties in the state.

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