Did Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Chori' Statement Backfire for Congress in Bihar?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rahul Gandhi's comments may have backfired, strengthening BJP's position.
- NDA's governance under Modi and Kumar is credited for electoral success.
- Opposition's unity is questioned amid internal distractions.
- The BJP's victory may influence upcoming elections in Assam and beyond.
- Political dynamics in India remain highly fluid and impactful.
Guwahati, Nov 14 (NationPress) In a pointed critique of Rahul Gandhi following the grand alliance's electoral defeat in the Bihar assembly elections on Friday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that the Congress leader's “vote chori” comment inadvertently contributed to a substantial mandate for the BJP in the recent elections.
Sarma informed reporters, “The public has not received Rahul Gandhi’s vote chori comment positively; instead, it has motivated voters to turn out in significant numbers for the BJP-led coalition. The Congress party faced a crushing defeat in the election results. Voters decisively rejected Congress in Bihar, leading to a resounding victory for the BJP-led alliance.”
The Chief Minister maintained that the NDA's success in Bihar was attributable to the people-centric initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
“It was the Prime Minister’s exemplary governance that drew voters to support the ruling alliance. I am confident that Assam, Bihar, and other regions will continue to witness comprehensive development, positioning India as a developed nation by 2047,” he emphasized.
In a mocking tone after the Bihar electoral outcome, Sarma labeled Rahul Gandhi as the biggest “star campaigner” for the BJP. Addressing the media, he remarked, “I consistently pointed out during the Bihar election campaign that wherever Rahul Gandhi participates, the BJP is poised to win those constituencies. This holds true, and should Rahul Gandhi choose to campaign in Assam, we would gladly welcome him as he would further guarantee the BJP's victory in the upcoming Assembly elections.”
The Chief Minister also took a jab at the recent gathering of opposition parties aimed at forming a united front to challenge the BJP in future elections. “The opposition meeting was essentially convened to discuss the wedding of an opposition leader. We should not be concerned with the opposition parties; importantly, if Akhil Gogoi is present, a calamity is bound to occur,” he added.
Significantly, in a landslide election result that reinforces the National Democratic Alliance's dominance in Bihar, the ruling coalition surged past the majority threshold of 122. Spearheaded by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United), the NDA's tally was significantly enhanced by the Bharatiya Janata Party's substantial victories.