'Congress Fought A Spirited Campaign': Kharge After 'Temporary Setbacks' In Three States

Despite the disappointment, Kharge affirmed a determination to rebuild. He appreciated the spirited campaign efforts of Congress workers and conveyed optimism for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

File photo of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge

Source : PTI Images

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday took to X (formerly Twitter), expressing gratitude to the people of Telangana for the mandate received and thanking voters in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Despite acknowledging disappointment in the party's performance in the latter three states, Kharge affirmed a determination to rebuild. He appreciated the spirited campaign efforts of Congress workers and conveyed optimism for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

I thank the people of Telangana for the mandate we have received from them.

I also thank all those who voted for us in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Our performance in these three states have no doubt been disappointing, but with determination, we reaffirm our…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) December 3, 2023

As the counting of votes commenced in Telangana, the Congress displayed strength by crossing the halfway mark with victories on seven seats and leading on 56 seats out of the 119 assembly.

BJP Surges Ahead In Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh And Chhattisgarh:

Meanwhile, in Rajasthan, the BJP appeared poised to regain power from the Congress, showcasing the party's strong foothold in the Hindi heartland state. The trends suggested that the Congress's reliance on welfare schemes and an extensive publicity campaign did not resonate at the grassroots level, while allegations of corruption and law and order issues hampered the party.

In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP celebrated a favorable outcome, leading in 162 out of 230 seats according to the latest Election Commission figures. The ruling party seemed set to retain power, leaving the Congress trailing behind with leads in 66 seats.

Chhattisgarh, initially anticipated to favour the Congress, witnessed a surprising turn as the BJP caught up and surged ahead, leading in 56 seats compared to Congress's 32 by late afternoon. The results underscored the BJP's adept management of internal conflicts, contrasting with the Congress's inability to address infighting effectively.

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