After the Congress party defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka assembly elections, party leader Rahul Gandhi said the market of hate has shut down and shops of love have opened in its place.
In 224-member Karnataka assembly, the Congress has won 125 seats and has acquired lead in 11, whereas the BJP's tally has been reduced to 58 seats won and a lead in 6 seats, according to latest date from the Election Commission (EC). The outgoing Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of BJP has conceded defeat.
Speaking to reporters, Rahul also thanked the people of Karnataka and leaders and workers of the Congress party.
He said, "I thank and congratulate the people of Karnataka, party workers and leaders. I am happy we contested the Karnataka polls without using hate, bad language. We fought the polls with love. In Karnataka, 'nafrat ka bazaar (market of hate)' has closed down, 'mohabbat ki dukaanein' (shops of love) have opened."
In the Karnataka polls, on one side there was power of crony capitalists and on the other there was the strength of poor people, said Rahul further, adding that the strength of the poor has defeated the power of crony capitalists and this will happen in all states.
Karnataka, along with Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, is among the key states where elections this year are expected to set the tone for the general elections next year. In 2024 general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to seek reelection for the second time and the Opposition is trying to put up a united front against him and his party.
(With PTI inputs)
