After the Congress party ousted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka, state Congress chief DK Shivakumar broke down and thanked the Gandhi family for reposing faith in him to lead the party.
In the 224-member Karnataka assembly, the Congress has won 14 and has secured a lead in 115 seats, according to the latest available information.
After the Congress party ousted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka, state Congress chief DK Shivakumar broke down and thanked the Gandhi family for reposing faith in him to lead the party.
In the 224-member Karnataka assembly, the Congress has won 14 and has secured a lead in 115 seats, according to the latest available information. The BJP has won just seven and is leading in 55 seats. Outgoing Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of BJP has already conceded defeat.
Overcome with emotions at the results, Karnataka Congress chief Shivakumar on Saturday broke down. With tears rolling down his cheeks, the former Minister thanked the party cadres and leaders for the victory.
Shivakumar also said that he had told the party high command that he will ensure the party’s victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections.
"I give credit to party cadres and all the leaders for the party's victory. People have reposed faith in us and the leaders supported us. It is a collective leadership and we have worked jointly," Shivakumar said, his voice choking.
"I had told Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge that we will deliver Karnataka. I can't forget Sonia Gandhi coming to meet me when the 'BJP people' had put me in jail. This is the confidence the Gandhi family, Congress and the entire country has bestowed on me," he said.
Shivakumar also thanked the leaders in the state including former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the MLAs and all the party office-bearers.
Ahead of the 2024 general elections, Karnataka was a key state that the Congress party was willing to win to assert itself. Together with Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, Karnataka is among the states where polls this year would work towards setting the tone for next year's general elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to seek reelection for the second time and the Opposition is looking forward to come together to mount a collective contest.
(With PTI inputs)