Sonia sends MPs in intro mode on poll debacle

New Delhi, Mar 6: Terming the outcome of the recent assembly elections in Punjab and Uttarakhand ''disappointing'', Congress President Sonia Gandhi today advised party MPs to do some introspection as to why so many sitting MLAs and ministers failed to retain their seats.

''If we are to learn from our experience, we must draw the correct conclusions. We must be candid with ourselves and examine why so many sitting MLAs and ministers, for example, failed to retain their seats,'' she said while addressing the General Body Meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party(CPP).

''What were our shortcomings? Did we put up the best possible candidates? Did our party fail to work jointly? Were we mindful enough of sensitivities and expectations of different sections of society? These questions need to be answered and the answers analysed,'' Ms Gandhi said.

She reminded the MPs that ''a deep-rooted change'' was occurring in the minds and attitude of the electorate. ''Voters are becoming impatient, they want their lives to improve. They want good and clean governance, prosperity, security and social justice.'' Emphasising that party unity and discipline were vital, Ms Gandhi observed, ''But again and again, we tend to subjugate individual ambitions to larger party objectives.''

Ms Gandhi, however, congratulated the party leadership and workers in Manipur for working hard in extremely difficult circumstances to ensure that the party came back to power for a second consecutive term. ''We must now fulfil the promises made during our campaign,'' she stressed and regretted that the party's performance in Punjab ''left much to be desired''.

''In spite of sound all-round development, we were unable to retain power,'' Ms Gandhi said. ''This tells us that while objective factors such as the price rise may have had an impact, there were other reasons as well.'' Reminding the MPs about the impending assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Ms Gandhi said, ''We are going to be put to test again shortly. Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are round the corner.'' ''This will be a difficult challenge, though our performance in the recent Assembly elections gives us enough confidence,'' the UPA Chairperson said, pointing out that Goa and Gujarat would also go to the polls later this year.

UNI