Rahul Gandhi accepts defeat, but says his party has fought anger with dignity

"The Congress party accepts the verdict of the people and congratulates the new governments in both states. I thank the people of Gujarat and Himachal with all my heart for the love they showed me," Gandhi said on his twitter handle.

Though the Congress lost power in Himachal Pradesh and failed to cut a teeth in BJP-ruled Gujarat, Gandhi had words of praise for party men, seeking to boost up their morale, saying they followed a brand of politics different from the BJP.

"My Congress brothers and sisters, you have made me very proud."

" You are different than those you fought because you fought anger with dignity. You have demonstrated to everyone that the Congress’s greatest strength is its decency and courage," he said.

In Gujarat, the long-held citadel of the BJP, Congress improved their showing by making considerable gains in terms of the number seats they won, but had to stop way short of the mark.

Rahul, who on campaign trail  was pitted by the Congress against Narendra Modi as a face of the youth, led the party front  as he made a whirlwind tour in Gujarat and raised issues of the discontentment of the poor and common people. He also roped in the support of a section of patidars who represent an influential community in the state.