New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) rout in Karnataka “is a clear result against (its) ideology”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday while praising Rahul Gandhi for a playing a leading role.
“The people of the country know what’s what and they will reject the BJP ideology as the result in Karnataka shows,” he told reporters.
Dr Singh admitted that corruption “is a major issue in the country” and suggested that all sections of society sit together and find a solution to this problem.
The Prime Minister said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi “took a leading role” in the Karnataka campaign “and worked hard”. “I congratulate the Congress workers of Karnataka.”
The Congress is set to return to power in Karnataka with a simple majority in the assembly.
Innings defeat for BJP : Meanwhile, buoyed by its success in Karnataka, Congress Ministers on Wednesday said this was an “innings defeat” for BJP and the verdict has exposed its star campaigner Narendra Modi.
“In Karnataka, the match is over and BJP has suffered an innings defeat. It will now blame the bat, the ball and the pitch for its defeat. People have now seen the real face of BJP and in Karnataka, people have discarded them lock, stock and barrel,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told reporters outside Parliament House.
He said BJP stands “clearly exposed” and this would be the trend in the forthcoming elections for five state assemblies and general elections to be held next year.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the victory was a “shot in the arm” for Congress and credited party President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr Singh and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi for the victory in polls. (Agencies)