Buoyed by the party's victory in the Assembly bypolls for three constituencies in Uttarakhand, the Congress leaders are citing the outcome of the assembly bypolls as a sign of the public disillusionment with the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government at the Centre.
Addressing the media at the Congress State head quarters soon after the declaration of the Assembly by polls results, the party State co-in charge Sanjay Kapoor averred that the BJP had been able to emerge victorious in the lok Sabha election and form the Government at the Centre by fooling the public into voting for it, but the voters of three assembly constituencies in Uttarakhand had realised this and elected the Congress candidates to the Assembly. Kapoor said that the voters in Uttarakhand had sent a clear message to the nation by electing the Congress candidates as the Modi Government had failed to check price rise in the country. "The Modi Government appears to be apathetic towards the welfare of the common people considering the hike in railway fare and rise in the prices of essential commodities including vegetables," he said. The party State co-in charge also commended chief minister Harish Rawat for ensuring Congress' success in the bypolls. He also appreciated the recently appointed Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Kishore Upadhyaya stating that his elevation to this post had been followed by victory for the party in the Assembly bypolls.
Addressing the media, Upadhyaya said that the voters in Uttarakhand had realised that the BJP had misled them to win the Parliamentary polls. "The voters used the opportunity provided by the Assembly bypolls to teach the BJP a lesson. The Congress party workers also played a big role in ensuring victory for the party in the Assembly by polls," he added. The Uttarakhand PCC chief further said that though the party was confident of winning the Dharchula and Someshwar seats, the party's victory from Doiwala after a span of 20 years had sent a strong message to the BJP.
Earlier, chief minister Harish Rawat and other party leaders garlanded the statue of former PM Rajiv Gandhi at the State Congress headquarters. Congress workers burst fireworks and distributed sweets to celebrate the victory.