Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday described the MVA's drubbing in Maharashtra as "unexpected" and assured supporters that the party would undertake a serious analysis of the adverse outcome.
Taking to social media platform X, Gandhi wrote in Hindi, "Maharashtra results are unexpected and we would conduct a detailed analysis."
Interestingly, when the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha expressed similar shock over the party's loss in Haryana last month, he used the word "unexpected" to describe the result in the agrarian state as well.
Seeking to boost party workers' morale, Gandhi highlighted the INDIA Bloc's victory in Jharkhand and thanked the voters for their whole-hearted support.
"Congratulations to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Congress and JMM workers for this victory," wrote Gandhi in Hindi.
He further claimed that the INDIA Bloc's success in Jharkhand reflected the triumph of efforts to protect the Constitution and water, forest and land.
He also thanked the party workers in Maharashtra for their efforts.
The Congress could manage just about 15 seats in Maharashtra while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) secured about 48 seats in the 288-member Assembly.
On voting day, November 20, Gandhi appealed to voters of Maharashtra by posting on X: "Brothers and sisters of Maharashtra, I appeal to all of you to vote today for the protection of the state's dignity and the Constitution. Every vote you cast for Maha Vikas Aghadi will prevent the theft of your jobs and projects, ensure fair prices for farmers' crops, and bring prosperity to your lives through the 5 guarantees.
Results on Saturday are a setback for both the Congress and Gandhi. There is no denying that Gandhi's campaign which has been mainly caste-based rhetoric and Constitutional assurances also flopped.
One of the greatest learnings from this defeat, many believe is an abject failure of Rahul Gandhi's agenda of caste census. His assurance of breaking the 50 per cent cap of reservation has also not materialized.
The caste calculus that he pushed during the campaign did not win voters’ approval in Maharashtra, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on caste unity, encapsulated in the slogan "Ek hain to safe hain," proved more effective.
Gandhi’s freebies offer also did not elicit any positive response from the public.
Read also| Waqf Row: BJP Protests Across Karnataka for Second Day with 'Our Land, Our Right' Slogan
