- Title: INDIA: Anti-corruption crusader stuns Indian politics with election surge
- Date: 8th December 2013
- Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (DECEMBER 08, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) CHIEF OF INDIA'S RULING CONGRESS PARTY, SONIA GANDHI WALKING ALONG WITH CONGRESS VICE-PRESIDENT AND SCION OF NEHRU GANDHI FAMILY, RAHUL GANDHI (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF OF INDIA'S RULING CONGRESS PARTY, SONIA GANDHI, SAYING: "It goes without saying that we are very, very disappointed at the results but we accept the verdict of the people in all humility. We congratulate our opponents for winning the elections." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF OF INDIA'S RULING CONGRESS PARTY, SONIA GANDHI, SAYING: "Naturally this result calls for deep introspection. We have to understand to look at the many reasons for these defeats. We have to look to the way we took or did not take well enough our message to the people." PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CONGRESS VICE-PRESIDENT AND SCION OF NEHRU GANDHI FAMILY, RAHUL GANDHI, SAYING: "I think the Aam Aadmi party has involved a lot of people who the traditional parties did not involve. We are going to learn from that and we are going to do a better job than anybody in the country and involve people in ways that you cannot imagine right now." SONIA GANDHI STANDING CHIEF OF INDIA'S REGIONAL AAM AADMI PARTY (AAP), ARVIND KEJRIWAL, ADDRESSING HIS SUPPORTERS FLOWERS BEING THROWN ON KEJRIWAL AND SUPPORTERS AAP SUPPORTERS CELEBRATING KEJRIWAL ADDRESSING CROWD SUPPORTERS CHEERING KEJRIWAL CELEBRATING, THROWING FLOWER PETALS ON HIS SUPPORTERS
- Embargoed: 23rd December 2013 20:31
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA7CL15PL43KGUL11AS3VJTQQBW
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Accepting defeat in the state polls and congratulating the winners, Chief of ruling Congress, Sonia Gandhi, called for 'deep introspection' within the party on Sunday (December 08) in New Delhi.
The Congress President expressed disappointment over her party's embarrassing performance and defeats in the assembly elections of north-western Rajasthan, central Madhya Pradesh and Delhi but was hopeful of the party's victory in eastern Chhattisgarh.
"It goes without saying that we are very, very disappointed at the results but we accept the verdict of the people in all humility. We congratulate our opponents for winning the elections," said Sonia Gandhi.
Gandhi said she accepted her party's mistakes.
"Naturally this result calls for deep introspection. We have to understand to look at the many reasons for these defeats. We have to look to the way we took or did not take well enough our message to the people,"Gandhi said.
According to early results on Sunday, the Congress party was headed for a bruising defeat in the Delhi state as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took the main lead and the newly formed anti-graft party, Aam Aadmi party (AAP), inched to second place.
Congress, led by the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, has led the central government for two terms and is facing widespread voter anger over corruption, slowing growth and stubborn inflation.
Its main opponent, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was the clear winner in the three big states that went to the polls.
Meanwhile, taking a cue from AAP that involved the youth and the common man in its race for victory, Congress vice-president and scion of Nehru -Gandhi family, Rahul Gandhi, put on a brave face and called for a transformation within the party.
"I think the Aam Aadmi party has involved a lot of people who the traditional parties did not involve. We are going to learn from that and we are going to do a better job than anybody in the country and involve people in ways that you cannot imagine right now," said Rahul Gandhi.
Gandhi also expressed faith in his party and said that it had the required capability for a comeback and would work again towards a transformation.
In Delhi, the one state which saw a three-way contest, the BJP's likely victory after 15 years of Congress rule was tempered by an unexpectedly strong showing by the new anti-corruption Aam Aadmi Party, which could deny it the majority it needs to rule.
The assembly elections were held in five provinces-Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh. Counting and results for key four states are due on Sunday (December 08) while result for Mizoram will be out on Monday (December 09).
The exit polls had pitched the Hindu nationalist opposition, Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), as the biggest winner in the four key states in which the state polls were held.
This could be a possible blow to the ruling Congress party ahead of a general election next year. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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