Chance pe dance? Rahul Gandhi is the 'architect' of victorious alliance in Bihar, says Congress
Leaders recalled that it was Rahul who brought Nitish and Lalu Prasad together
New Delhi: As the Nitish Kumar-led coalition marched to victory in Bihar Assembly polls, Congress on Sunday lost no time in crediting Rahul Gandhi for it, hailing him as the "architect" of the Grand Alliance.
"While Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the architect of the victory in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi is the architect of the alliance," Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam said.
It is the general refrain in the party with general secretary Shakeel Ahmed insisting that the Grand Alliance could not have been possible but for the effective role played by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.
Leaders recalled that it was Rahul who brought Nitish and Lalu Prasad together and played a key role of catalyst at a time when the RJD supremo was having reservations.
The victory in Bihar is also being talked about as a good timing for Rahul to take over as party chief.
Replying to questions, party leaders including Shakeel Ahmed said it is for party chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul to decide on the issue. There was much talk that an AICC session could be held in the current month itself.
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Bihar is the first victory for Congress after a long time -- the last major victory being the Karnataka assembly polls where it defeated the BJP.
The 40-minute meeting between Rahul and Nitish Kumar in Delhi months ahead of the polls played a crucial role and is being termed as "path breaking", Congress sources said.
In a tweet, Rahul called Bihar results a victory of unity over divisiveness, humility over arrogance, love over hate.
Congress had contested 41 seats out of 243 as part of the Grand Alliance and is leading in 23.
Terming the Bihar poll outcome as a defeat of "divisive agenda of BJP and RSS", Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said it is time for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tone down his "arrogance" or people will "throw him out".
The Congress leader also asked Modi to stop his frequent foreign tours and instead go to meet farmers, labourers and youth whom he promised jobs.
Gandhi said the grand alliance's triumph was "a victory of unity over divisiveness, humility over arrogance and love over hate".
"The truth is this victory is not against NDA but against the ideology of BJP, RSS and Modi. This is a message against putting Hindus against Muslims and making them fight to win elections.”
"His vehicle is not starting. He should start it and press the accelerator. If you do not do it, people of India will open the door and throw you out as they have done in Bihar," he said of Modi, adding as a Prime Minister it does not behove his stature to "pit one community against the other".
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become arrogant. He should work on toning it down as it will benefit him and the country.”
"Modi should stop campaigning and start working. He should also stop foreign tours and instead go and meet farmers, labourers and youth whom he promised jobs," he told reporters.
The Congress vice president said this message is echoing in the entire country and it was time for Modi to pay heed.
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