Newly-elected Congress president Rahul Gandhi has congratulated the ruling BJP at the Centre for winning the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls and added that the Congress Party accepted the people's verdict.

Counting of votes were taken up yesterday in Gujarat (where polls were held on 09th and 14th of this month) and in Himachal Pradesh (which voted last month). Despite some initial hiccups in Gujarat, the BJP managed to retain power in the State thus winning a record sixth successive term, albeit with less number of seats than the last two Assembly polls in 2007 and 2012. In Himachal Pradesh, the BJP unseated the ruling Congress Party with a commanding victory and wrested power in its control.

Recording his views on his Twitter account, Rahul said "The Congress Party accepts the verdict of the people and congratulates the new governments in both the States. I thank the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh with all my heart for the love they showed me!"

Rahul also had words of praise for Congress cadres and leaders who worked tirelessly in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh."My Congress brothers and sisters, you have made me very proud. You are different than those you fought because you fought with dignity. You have demonstrated to everyone that the Congress greatest strength is its decency and courage," Rahul's tweets said.

It may be recalled that while the Congress lost tamely in Himachal Pradesh, it gave the BJP tense moments during the initial hours of counting as early trends indicated that the Congress might upset the BJP`s applecart.