Victory of people of Karnataka, defeat of 'hatred': Congress

"This is truly the victory of the people of Karnataka. They have voted for their progressive future, their welfare and social justice. We thank them for putting their trust in us, " said jubilant Kharge on Karnataka election results.

Crediting the party leaders and workers for the party's big win, he said , "All our Karnataka Congress party workers, state leaders and office bearers on the ground worked extremely hard to ensure this victory."

He added, "The collective leadership of the Congress party including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi made it possible."

"A transparent, accountable, people friendly and welfare oriented government will be formed by the Congress party (in Karnataka)," Kharge said.

The Congress president also assured that the party shall implement the 'five guarantees' promised by it in its manifesto.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while talking to the reporters at the party headquarters, congratulated the people of Karnataka and party leaders, and said , "This is the victory of Karnataka."

In a veiled attack on the BJP, the former Congress chief said, "In Karnataka elections, on one side was the power of 'crony capitalists', while on the other side was the strength of the people. The strength of the poor has defeated the power of the capitalists."

The same will happen in other states also, he opined.

"Congress stood by the people and raised their issues.

We fought with love. The market of 'hatred' has closed in Karnataka and the shop of love has opened," elated Rahul said.

He also said that the five guarantees as promised will be fulfilled at the first sitting of the state Cabinet.

Elated over party's performance, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to the micro blogging site and expressed her gratitude to the people of Karnataka for reposing faith on the party, and termed it "historic".

"This is the victory of politics that unites the country.The Congress party will work diligently to implement the guarantees promised to the people of Karnataka," Vadra said.

Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala in a tweet said, "Karnataka voted for Progress! Karnataka voted for Prosperity! Karnataka voted for Swabhimana!
The young and the old, the poor and the middle class, everyone has trusted the Congress and given us a big majority."

Earlier, Congress general secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh in a tweet wrote, "As the results firm up in Karnataka it is now certain that the Congress has won and the PM has lost. The BJP had made its election campaign a referendum on the PM and on the state getting his 'ashirwaad'. That has been decisively rejected."

Taking a swipe at the PM, the MP said , "The PM injected 'divisiveness' and attempted 'polarisation'. The vote in Karnataka is for an engine in Bengaluru that will combine economic growth with social harmony."

He said the Congress party fought the Karnataka elections on local issues of livelihood and food security, price rise, farmer distress, electricity supply, joblessness, and corruption.

(With UNI inputs)