New Delhi: Congress General Secretary and party’s star campaigner in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday took full responsibility for the party’s debacle in the state assembly elections as his party leaders sought to absolve him of any blame.
Speaking to reporters at the 10 Janpath residence of party president Sonia Gandhi, Mr Gandhi said he took the defeat in his ‘stride’ as the party had fought well in the elections but had not got good results.
“I take full responsibility. I led the campaign…The result is a good lesson for me…The mood was for the Samajwadi Party,” he said.
The party had fought well in the elections but could not get good results, Mr Gandhi who had led the party’s election campaign in the state, said.
Even as Mr Gandhi shouldered the responsibility, his party leaders sought to absolve him of any such blame.
Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh, who is the party’s in-charge for UP, said Mr Gandhi was not projected as the Chief Minister of the state so the defeat did not reflect on his (Mr Gandhi’s) stature as a leader.
“His job as a star campaigner is to attract masses and spell out ideology,” party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury said.
Mr Gandhi, while congratulating the Samajwadi Party (SP) and its leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav for the electoral victory, said the fundamentals of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh were weak and needed to be strengthened.
“Congress fundamentals in Uttar Pradesh were weak and need to be strengthened…,” he said adding that he would continue to work for the people of Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress General Secretary said he took the party’s defeat in his ‘stride’.
“I take it in my stride…,” he said. Mr Gandhi said his effort would continue to strengthen the party. (UNI)
