San Francisco Frontiers - Revival on cards as India's Congress party springs surprise

The once-mighty political force with a proud role in ending British colonial rule had been down in the dumps after two humiliating defeats at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the previous two elections.

Exit polls had predicted another drubbing for the Congress this time but the party defied pundits, improving its performance by leaps and bounds.

Enthusiastic party supporters were beating drums and waving giant flags at the party headquarters in the capital New Delhi as results started trickling in.

Figures from the election commission projected Congress to grab 99 seats, significantly higher than the 52 it managed in 2019.

For the first time in a decade the BJP appeared likely to fall short of an overall majority of its own, meaning it would need to rely on its alliance partners to form the government.

Congress supporters credited its above-par performance to the "astute" leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the most prominent leader of the party.

He is also the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty that played a dominant role in Indian politics for generations.

"Rahul has worked hard day and night. He deserves all the accolades. He has single-handedly lifted the party up," said Avneesh Jain, a party worker.

"At this rate we will win the next election for sure."

- 'Divisive agenda' -

Gandhi, 53, has been hamstrung by several criminal cases lodged against him by members of BJP, including a defamation conviction that saw him briefly disqualified from parliament last year.

Congress's bank accounts were also frozen by the tax department this year.

Against the odds, Gandhi continued to attack Modi and the BJP, calling out their "divisive" agenda that he said sought to marginalise the country's 200-million plus Muslim minority.

"Our bank accounts were seized. We didn't have the money to contest the election," said senior Congress politician Alka Lamba.

"But then the public supported us."

The results have reposed faith in the Congress leadership, especially Gandhi, who was pitted against the rival's well-oiled election machinery.

The Congress promise of an annual cash transfer of Rs 100,000 ($1,200) to every poor Indian family and jobs to the youth also seemed to have struck a chord with voters.

"Rahul Gandhi has delivered through his promises to the youth and the poor," said Ziya Us Salam, a political analyst and author.

"He has also shed his highly undeserved tag of 'pappu' (witless)," he told AFP.

"He has the credibility that Modi doesn't have. Modi only indulged in divisive speeches and bigotry. He had nothing constructive to offer to the masses."

- 'Strong opposition' -

The son, grandson and great-grandson of former prime ministers, Gandhi was set to win the Congress bastion of Rae Bareli and also another seat in the southern state of Kerala.

Rajeev Shukla, a Congress lawmaker, credited a cross-country trek undertaken by Gandhi at the start of last year for the party's revival.

"The long march worked wonders. He connected with the people on the ground, that made a lot of difference."

The Congress poll performance showed it remained crucial for India's political opposition at the national level, said V.S. Chandrasekar, the former executive editor of the Press Trust of India news agency.

"The BJP government has ridden roughshod because of the weak opposition in the parliament," he told AFP.

"Now with more than 200 opposition members, there will be a strong restraint on the government."

Chandrasekar also praised Gandhi for giving a tough fight to the ruling right-wing party "without any fear".

"Congress is showing signs of revival which is good for democracy. A strong opposition is needed in India."

I.Wright--SFF