Congress didn't accept people's mandate: Modi

Fresh from his impressive electoral victory, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attacked the Congress saying that the party decided to carry on a campaign against him instead of accepting the people's mandate.

Addressing a public meeting in his Maninagar constituency in Ahmedabad, he cautioned that 'people who have not been able to digest BJP's victory' will try to create hurdles in the state's progress.

"Instead of accepting the people's mandate, the Congress has already declared that they will continue with their anti-Modi campaign," Modi said, adding "I pray to God to give them strength."

"The people of Gujarat felt that the development work happening in the state should not be stopped. They felt that hurdles should not the created in the state's progress and so they voted for the BJP," he said.

Modi assured the people of Maninagar that once he assumes office for a new term he will not do any thing for which the people of the constituency will have to be ashamed of.

Terming the electoral victory 'as a golden moment for the BJP,' Modi said, "Apart from (Left ruled) West Bengal, no party has been able to continuously remain in power in any state for long."

"Since 1990, we (the BJP) have won five times in Gujarat," he said, thanking the people of Maninagar for electing him with a margin of over 86,000 votes.

"Though I campaigned for just 25 minutes in Maninagar, the people of Maninagar supported me and fought the elections on my behalf."

"In Maninagar, Narendra Modi had no role in the victory because it was the people who fought for me," Modi said.

He said that in earlier elections Maninagar witnessed just 23 per cent voting but this year the turnout was as high as 61 per cent.

Modi attributed the party's win to the people of the state and the hardwork put in by BJP workers.

"This victory is the result of the sweat and hardwork that you have put in," he told his party workers.

The BJP leader also asked the people to be 'humble' in their victory.

Modi also invited the gathering to the Sardar Patel Stadium at Navrangpura in Ahmedabad on December 27 where a new BJP government will take oath. Earlier in the evening, Modi, dressed in a saffron attire, addressed a gathering of BJP workers at the party office in Khanpur.

"A Vijay Sabha (victory ceremony) will be held at the party office in Ahmedabad on Monday to celebrate the victory. I will talk to you in detail then," Modi told the gathering even as his supporters chanted his name and appealed to him to continue his speech.

Meanwhile, a festive atmosphere prevailed at the BJP office in Ahmedabad during the entire day. The workers burst crackers, threw 'gulal' and waved BJP flags as the news of the poll victory poured in. The workers, who had turned out in large numbers at the party office, danced and distributed sweets.