Humbly accept election verdict: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said the party will hold a meeting under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi to introspect and identify the changes needed

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said his party “humbly accepts the people’s verdict” and congratulated the winners of the assembly elections in five states.

Rahul Gandhi said they will learn and keep working for the interests of India’s people. (PTI)

“Best wishes to those who have won the mandate. My gratitude to all Congress workers and volunteers for their hard work and dedication,” he tweeted. He added they “will learn from this and keep working for the interests of the people of India”.

At a press conference, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said the party will hold a meeting under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi to introspect and identify the changes needed.

Surjewala blamed the anti-incumbency during former chief minister Amarinder Singh’s rule for the party’s rout in Punjab. “We offered the people of Punjab an alternative in the form of Charanjit Singh Channi but could not overcome the anti-incumbency,” he said.

Surjewala said Congress was unable to turn its resurrection in Uttar Pradesh into votes. “In Uttar Pradesh, we were able to resurrect and revive Congress at the grassroots but...the determined fight did not get converted into seats,” he said. He maintained Congress stood out as a party and ensured issues of division, hatred, and polarisation were not the mainstays of the campaign. “We focused on unemployment, inflation, health, and education. We are aware that emotional issues overtook fundamental issues. We still stand in solidarity with the people and will continue to raise the issues such as the sinking economy and unemployment and work for them.”

Surjewala said Congress is dejected but determined to a comeback. “We will implement the changes that are needed to resurrect the party.”