Spokesperson: Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala: He said that the Indian National Congress take this opportunity to extend our felicitations to all the political parties and individuals, who have won the elections in the five election going states. In democracy, the decision of people is ultimate and we bow our head before the verdict that people of these five states have given.

It is a fact that the results of the five states are not as per our expectations. We expected far better results in Goa, in Uttarakhand and in Punjab and we accept that we have not been able to completely win the trust of people of these states.

In Punjab, Congress party presented a new leadership in Sardar Charanjit Singh Channi, who is son of the soil, comes from a very humble background, is honest and dedicated to the cause of people of Punjab, but, the anti-incumbency of 4-1/2 years under Sardar Amarinder Singh, we could not overcome. People voted for a change and we congratulate the Aam Aadmi Party, Sardar Bhagwant Mann as also Shri Arvind Kejriwal for Punjab.

In Uttar Pradesh, we were able to resurrect and revive the Congress party up to the grassroot in every village and every town of Uttar Pradesh, but it is a fact that resurrection and determined fight that the Congress Party put up has not got converted into seats in this election.

We did put up a determined fight in Uttarakhand and Goa, but we could not achieve the mark of victory and that’s a lesson that we will learn to work harder as also alongside the people. Indian National Congress stood out as a party in these elections, which ensured that the issues of division, of hatred, of religious polarization and of caste division viz-a-viz the issues that we put up of runaway inflation, of unemployment, of a sinking economy, of better infrastructure, of better health and education be addressed. It does seem that the emotional issues did overtake these fundamental issues affecting the life of people.

Whether we win or lose an election, Indian National Congress stands in solidarity with the people of India. We shall continue to espouse and champion people’s voice viz-a-viz issues of unemployment, of inflation, of those affecting their lives, of sinking economy, issues relating to creation of better placed infrastructure, be it in the field of education, health, power or other sectors, and we shall continue to work with people.

We are disappointed, but we are determined to work back with the people of India as also to resurrect ourself from the grassroots, by having a detailed introspection. Very soon, Hon’ble, Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi will be calling a meeting of the Congress Working Committee to discuss threadbare all the issues, which affected us in the five election going states.

Once again, I take this opportunity to congratulate all the winners in all the five states. I also thank all the Congress Leaders and workers in the five states for the hard work, zeal and dedication that they worked to make the party a success, although, we haven’t succeeded. I also extend my best wishes to people in these five states for a better future, for working with the new governments. Thursday, March 10, 2022