Accept defeat with humility: CM

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 24

Sending a loud and clear signal, an assertive Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today said winning and losing was part of the game but one must accept defeat with humility and grace. Addressing a press conference here today, Thakur said rather than blaming the EVMs for the drubbing in the parliamentary elections, the Congress leaders should have shown grace in accepting defeat, which is very much part of politics. 

“I read Virbhadra Singh ji’s statement that the CM was confined to Seraj for campaigning and did not travel elsewhere. It is so unfortunate that he is so uninformed,” he remarked.

He said seeing the writing on the wall, the Congress had already rehearsed about putting the blame on the EVMs. “The elections have also removed the misconception some people had about them being indispensable and important while all others were insignificant,” he said sarcastically. He said that the fact that the BJP polled almost 70 per cent votes and the Congress a mere 27 per cent should give the Congress an idea about the ground reality.

In the backdrop of the resounding victory in the Lok Sabha elections, Thakur said he was greatly humbled by the faith people had reposed in the BJP but at the same time he realized that it also brings with it greater responsibility. “Our government has been in office for a mere 15 months. During this period, we tried to make a difference in the lives of people of every section. Now we will move forward with an action plan so that Himachal can surge ahead on the path of development,” he said.

While stating that he was not being arrogant, he said no other chief minister till date had got such a huge lead (37,147) from his Assembly segment in any of the polls in the state till date. “I addressed 106 election meetings since the model code of conduct came into force. The response that I got even in Congress citadels like Rohru and Rampur clearly gave us an idea that we were heading for win,” he said. He admitted that though he was confident of winning all four seats with bigger margins, he never anticipated such a landslide victory.

The CM said these elections created many historical records whether it was the highest-ever voter turnout, the Congress not even leading in a single Assembly segment, all Congress stalwarts getting a drubbing on their home turf and all the four Congress candidates trailing even in their own segments.

‘Gandhi-mukt’ Cong to be reality 

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said while the reality about a Congress-mukt Bharat had been attained, the reality of a Gandhi-mukt Congress could also be possible in the near future. Crediting Modi with the victory, he said in the PM, people saw a strong and able leader, who could help India be a global power.