Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who spearheaded the election campaign in Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday briefly commented on the poll setback in the crucial state as her note to the party workers revealed a disappointment. The "hardwork" at the grasroot levels and "struggle for people's issues" did not translate into votes, the Congress UP in-charge tweeted. The Congress faced one of its worst-ever performances in the state, and it was hardly able to move beyond the single digits as votes were counted. The BJP yet again swept the elections with a huge margin, and Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party is the first runner-up.
"In a democracy, people's mandate is the most important. Our leaders and party workers worked hard, stitched an alliance and struggled for people's issues. But our hard work did not translate into votes. The Congress will continue to work with a positive agenda for the public welfare in UP. We will continue to work as a responsible opposition," the 50-year-old leader tweeted in Hindi.
On Wednesday, she also had also tweeted a message for her party workers ahead of the counting of votes. Once a dominant party in UP, the Congress has suffered huge poll losses in the last few years.
Sonia Gandhi will be calling a meeting for introspection, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Thursday.
In their tweets, Congress leaders - Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor - also commented on the debacle. “Humbly accept the people’s verdict. Best wishes to those who have won the mandate. My gratitude to all Congress workers and volunteers for their hard work and dedication. We will learn from this and keep working for the interests of the people of India. (sic)," Rahul Gandhi wrote.
{{/usCountry}}In their tweets, Congress leaders - Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor - also commented on the debacle. “Humbly accept the people’s verdict. Best wishes to those who have won the mandate. My gratitude to all Congress workers and volunteers for their hard work and dedication. We will learn from this and keep working for the interests of the people of India. (sic)," Rahul Gandhi wrote.
{{/usCountry}}"All of us who believe in @INCIndia are hurting from the results of the recent assembly elections. It is time to reaffirm the idea of India that the Congress has stood for and the positive agenda it offers the nation (sic)," Shashi Tharoor wrote.
In another post, however, he also took a subtle dig at the Yogi Adityanath government.