As the counting process into election to five assemblies reached its final phases, Senior Congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee declared that the people have given their verdict towards both 'stability' and 'change.'
"The terms may sound contradictory, but when you analyse the results, you will realise that that is what is indicated," Mukherjee said.
In Congress's first press briefing after the poll results of assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry, Mukherjee visibly appeared pleased.
"Certain political parties wanted to destabilise the government. There have been attempts by these forces to bring instability to the government and the system for over a year. So, these poll results indicate that the people voted for stability. In West Bengal and Kerala, the people voted for change," Mukherjee said.
Pointing at Bharatiya Janata Party's poor fare in the elections, Mukherjee said that the 'other so called national party' could not even get a double digit figure in their attempts.
"A national party which had claimed that it would form government in all five states could not even get a double digit figure in the number of seats they won. There were over 800 seats contested and the other national party just got 6 seats. Look at the figures. They got 0 seats in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and got 1 and 5 (respectively) in West Bengal and Assam," Mukherjee said.
Warning the 'national parties' to behave, Mukherjee said that he hoped they would learn from these results.
"Elections take place at regular intervals. According to me, the responsibility of waiting for the next election is with the other parties. So when a government is formed, attempt at destabilising a ruling party not only destabilises the government, but also the system," Mukherjee said.
Talking about Trinamool chief Mamta Bannerjee's landslide victory in West Bengal, Mukherjee said that the Congress also had a part to play in the results.
"We, in our own humble way, also contributed to Mamata Bannerjee achieving this. I had visited over 100 constituencies, where I found that the people had accepted the alliance. Therefore the transition was smooth. 8 per cent votes came from pro-Congress constituencies," Mukherjee said.
Congratulating Mamata Bannerjee, Mukherjee said that within 13 years, the TMC reduced a 34-year-old strong Communist Party of India-Marxist party to a two digit number of seats.
"People have clearly given their verdict and I congratulate Mamata Banerjee," Mukherjee said.
Mukherjee refused to be drawn into speculating who would continue in the railway ministry after Banerjee leaves.
Talking about the third-time victory of Tarun Gogoi, Mukherjee said that the people had voted for stability in Assam.
"The results show that the people voted for stability, development and reconciliation -- our attempts at bringing back the misguided into mainstream politics," Mukherjee said.
Mukherjee said that in Kerala, the Congress definitely expected more seats, but that people still had voted for a change. Here again, he refused to speculate who will be the next CM, saying that the Congress had enough resources to decide who would head the southern state.
About the loss in Tamil Nadu, Mukherjee said that they accept the verdict of the people.
"The verdict in Tamil Nadu also is a vote for change. We thank the people who supported us and tell the people who voted against us that we will try to rectify our mistakes and come up to their expectations," Mukherjee added.
When asked if the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam had suddenly become a liability to the Congress, Mukherjee said that they do not consider any party in their alliance as a liability.
"Success and defeat are parts of parliamentary politics," Mukherjee said.
