Congress president Rahul Gandhi expressed confidence in his party’s victory in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2019, and accused the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of spreading hatred.

“The election was fought on key issues, including demonetisation, farmer problems, Gabbar Singh Tax and corruption in Rafale,” Gandhi told reporters after casting his vote at a school in Delhi.

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Using the Congress terminology for the GST, the 48-year-old Gandhi was referring to the series of issues that his party raised to target the government.

“(Prime Minister) Narendra Modi used hatred in the campaign and we used love, and I am confident love will win,” he said.

Gandhi, who is contesting for the first time from two seats – Amethi in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad in Kerala, exercised his franchise at a polling booth in NP Senior Secondary School in Aurangzeb Lane.

The Congress has been relentlessly targeting the BJP government over a host of issues, but especially mounted its attack in the past few months on the Dassault Rafale deal. Gandhi has alleged corruption in the purchase of 36 Dassault Rafale fighter jets from France.

And at an election rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Shujalpur on Saturday, Gandhi said that he would never hate PM Modi.

“I believe that Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be defeated only with love,” said Rahul, while referring to the PM’s “attacks” on his family.

“I don’t hate Modi. Modi-ji; you can say whatever you want to. Hatred cannot overcome hatred. Modi-ji cannot be defeated with hatred, he can be defeated only with love,” he said.

“There is no hatred in the hearts of Congress workers. But there is hatred in the hearts of the BJP, RSS people and Modi. Our job is to end that hatred. They spew hatred for me, my father (Rajiv Gandhi), grandmother (Indira Gandhi) and great grandfather (Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru). But I go and hug him (PM Modi). Get rid of hatred, work with love. You will benefit yourself,” said Rahul.

In the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, voting is being held on 59 seats across seven states. All seven seats in Delhi and all 10 in Haryana are among the seats where polling is being held.