Gujarat bypoll results should serve as an eye opener for BJP, says Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela

Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Gujarat Assembly Shankersinh Vaghela welcomed the bypoll result from Gujarat today and termed it as an "eye-opener" for the BJP.

"The bypoll results reflect the mood of voters, who were once misled by BJP's false propaganda. Through this election, voters have given a clear anti-BJP mandate. The results are an eye opener for the BJP. It has also strengthened our party," Vaghela said in a press release issued here today afternoon.

Out of one Lok Sabha and nine assembly seats for which bypolls were held in Gujarat, the Congress managed to get three assembly seats, including Mangrol, Khambhalia and Deesa, which were earlier held by the BJP.

"Though Congress won in three seats out of nine, there is a huge decline in the margins of BJP candidates who won from the remaining six seats. I thank voters for that," Vaghela said, hinting at the BJP's declining popularity among the people of Gujarat.

Vaghela also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise of "Acche Din". "BJP came to power at the centre by claiming 'Acche Din Aane Wale Hai'. BJP promised to uproot corruption, unemployment and inflation, but people are now repenting, because no promise was fulfilled. 'Acche Din' came only for the BJP, not for the common man," Vaghela said.

Without naming Modi, the Congress leader also lambasted the BJP-led central government for going "soft" on Pakistan and China. "Before Lok Sabha elections, they used to claim that they would take revenge for beheading of our soldiers by Pakistan. BJP leaders had also promised to teach a lesson to China, but none of these promises have been fulfilled yet. These results are a reflection of the changed mood," Vaghela said.