‘She’s alone not responsible': Mallikarjun Kharge defends Sonia Gandhi after Congress' Assembly poll debacle

The leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge defended Sonia Gandhi over the assembly poll debacle, reiterated his faith in strengthening the party's strategies and defeating BJP in the next elections.

After Congress' Assembly rout in five states, top Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has defended Sonia Gandhi, stating that she alone is not responsible for it. "Every state leader and MP is responsible, not the Gandhi family," he told ANI. Reimposing his faith in Sonia Gandhi, he said that "there is no question of offering resignation."

Mallikarjun Kharge (ANI)

The leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha reiterated his faith in strengthening the party's strategies and defeating BJP in the next elections. "We will fight BJP and its ideology; push our ideology & hope that in the next elections, we do much better than before," he said.

On Sunday, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) held a meeting over the setback they faced in the assembly elections of five states. Addressing a press meet post the meeting, the Congress admitted that the results of the assembly elections in 5 states - Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur are a 'cause of concern'. The party also expressed their trust in Sonia Gandhi's leadership and said that 'there is no call for a change in the party's leadership.'

Taking to Twitter, the Congress said, "The CWC unanimously reaffirms its faith in the leadership of Smt. Sonia Gandhi and requests the Congress President to lead from the front, address the organizational weaknesses, effect necessary & comprehensive organizational changes in order to take on the political challenges."

In the CWC meeting, Sonia Gandhi was also requested to lead from the front, and address organizational weaknesses. She was also requested to effect necessary and comprehensive organizational changes to take on the political challenges.

After months of infighting, the Congress lost to AAP in Punjab with bagging just 18 out of the 117 assembly seats. Meanwhile, the party won just two out of the 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh - where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had held a large number of election campaigns.