Sonia sends party MPs in introspection mode on poll debacle

New Delhi, Mar 6 (UNI) 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.'' MORE UNI