Gujarati newspapers hail resurgence of Congress, credit Rahul Gandhi

All leading Gujarati newspapers have hailed the resurgence of the Congress, notwithstanding the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the sixth straight time in the recently concluded elections to the state Assembly.

“Bhajpani Jeet Ma Haar, Congress Hari Ne Jeetyu” (The BJP loses despite winning, Congress wins despite the defeat),” screamed the banner headline of a leading Gujarati daily, Gujarat Samachar.

“Bhajapano Vijay: Congress Nu Navsarjan (The BJP wins: Resurgence of Congress),” trumpeted the front-page headline of the other leading newspaper, Sandesh.

Another daily, Divya Bhaskar, noted that the BJP won the least number of Assembly seats in the last 25 years and Congress won the highest number of seats in the last 32 years.

Surat’s leading newspaper Gujarat Mitra, came up with a sarcastic headline on BJP’s electoral victory. “Gujarate Jaane Modi No Kaan Aaamli, Naak Rakhyu!” (Gujarat pulled Modi’s ears to save his nose).

All leading Gujarati newspapers credited Congress president Rahul Gandhi for providing a fillip to the party’s election campaign and boosting the morale of the party workers. The newspapers praised him for not playing into the hands of the BJP by refusing to engage in low-level personal attacks in the lead-up to the elections.

The vernacular media welcomed the emergence of the Congress as a strong opposition which, they emphasised, was necessary to pressure the ruling BJP to perform, and fulfil the promises made to voters during electioneering.

Ever since the final results were declared, which showed the BJP’s tally at 99, the jubilation in the ruling party offices had been subdued. There was no display of firecrackers, nor beating of drums.