Congress, BJP take credit for win

The ongoing 'e-war' between rivals Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress took an interesting turn yesterday after India registered a narrow victory over Pakistan in a cricket match.

The two major claimants for power tried to seize the opportunity to get closer to the cricket-crazy millions by sending SMS messages, unabashedly claiming credit for the victory. As soon as the match was over, the BJP sent SMS messages to all and sundry saying "Well done India for winning the game as well as hearts".

The message to win both matches and hearts was given by none other than Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when the Pakistan-bound team called on him on Wednesday.

The Congress, not to be outdone, was quick to respond that none should have any doubts about India's victory since Rahul and Priyanka, children of its president Sonia Gandhi, were with the team. Rahul and Priyanka were among the special invitees to watch the Karachi match.

It soon followed this message by sending another SMS, that the victory belongs to "Great India", a slogan pioneered by Sonia's assassinated husband Rajiv Gandhi and that the victory has given "honour to commoners".

The Congress in a bid to attract the large middle class voters has shifted its focus from the poor to the common man in the upcoming general elections.