New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Oct 16, 2004) said that the people of Maharashtra have given a "crushing defeat" to communal forces and a "decisive victory" to Congress and its allies.

"The people of Maharashtra have given a crushing defeat to communal forces, to forces which wanted to divide our country on the basis of religion and caste," he told reporters after the Assembly election results were out in Maharashtra.

Final party position for Maharashtra Assembly

"It is a very happy day for Congress and its allies," Singh said.

He thanked Congress president Sonia Gandhi for the extensive campaign undertaken by her and the support the party got from NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) leader Sharad Pawar.