'Modi ji, start your car and step on the accelerator': Rahul Gandhi says after Bihar election result

Rahul Gandhi was smiling a lot today. One surely cannot grudge him that. Election results over the last few years hardly allowed him that luxury. The Congress faired miserably in almost all major elections around the country and he had to take the flak from all quarters. Bihar results have come as a welcome relief from the uncomfortable routine. Twenty-six seats was perhaps beyond his and his party’s expectation. But neither would be complaining. The festive ambience outside and inside the Congress headquarters at 24, Akbar Road, on Sunday afternoon told it all. For the party’s leaders and workers, Diwali had actually arrived couple of days early. They were in a frenzied display of happiness. The message was clear to outsiders – good times have arrived for the Congress. Amidst, the presence of the party leaders, workers and national media, and non-stop sloganeering of ‘Rahul…Rahul…Rahul’, the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family made his stormy appearance at 1.45 pm. Clad in a white cotton half-bush shirt, a pair of blue jeans and a pair of black slippers, Gandhi arrived with a smile on his face, and went on to exchange greetings with his party workers. It was a rare moment for the Congress workers as a few members from the Congress youth brigade, crossed the temporary security cordon and hugged Gandhi, while shouting ‘Rahul ji ki Jai’. [caption id=“attachment_2500394” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  All smiles: Rahul Gandhi with Congress workers in New Delhi on Sunday. PTI[/caption] Gandhi could not hide the ecstasy and joy on his face as he addressed the media. “This victory of the Mahagathbandhan is in fact a victory of truth, brotherhood and against the ego of the BJP. In fact, the truth is that this victory is not against the NDA, but against the divisive ideology of Modi, BJP and the RSS. This victory conveys a message to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he should pay heed to what the nation says. Narendra Modi, BJP and RSS can’t divide this nation. This country doesn’t belong to a single caste or religion. They can’t divide the nation on the basis of Hindu and Muslim,” said Gandhi. He accused both the BJP and Modi of riding high on arrogance. “This attitude of the PM projects him in bad light and won’t do any good to our country. There is a need of brotherhood, mutual love and development.” Drawing a similie, he said the time has arrived for the PM to start his car, accelerate it and move ahead, instead of delivering lectures and making statements. “Campaigning bandh kijiye, bhashan bandh kijiye aur kaam shuru kijiye. Kyunki Hindustan ek saal se ruk gaya hai aapke liye, aapki gaadi start nahi ho rahi,gaadi ko start kijiye aur accelerator dabaiye. Agar aapne accelerator nahi dabaya toh Hindustan ki janta ne jo Bihar mein kiya, gaadi ka darwaza kholegi, aapko bhaar fenk degi (Stop campaigning, stop preaching and get to work. Because the country has stopped for a year. Start your car and step on the accelerator. If you don’t do that, the people of this will do what they did in Bihar – they will open the doors of the car and throw you out.)” “I want Mr.Modi to tone down his arrogance, it will be good for him and for the nation as well,” Rahul added. On possibilities of any future alliance in UP and Punjab, Gandhi said, “It’s our internal strategy and will be discussed in the party meeting. Our Congress president has extended her support to Nitish Kumar and the Congress will do its best for the development of Bihar,” he added. A CWC member had told this correspondent on 27 October that after the announcement of Bihar election results and Diwali, Rahul Gandhi is expected to announce his new team. “The time has arrived. The Congress has made its strong impact in the Bihar election. It’s time that the Congress party rejuvenated itself by strengthening at all levels. Considering the forthcoming Assembly polls in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and then West Bengal, Rahul Gandhi has to take up the leadership role under Soniaji’s guidance,” the CWC member reiterated, requesting anonymity. The presence of Gandhi had an electric effect on the party workers, especially the youth, as through slogans they openly expressed their desire to see him as their new leader, to take the BJP head on. Though, the Congress vice president left the venue in haste, realizing soon, he came back to wish the media and party workers “Happy Diwali”.