Jaiswal differs from Rahul on Karnataka results

Lucknow, June 3 (UNI) A day after Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi termed the result of the Karnataka elections a setback to the party, Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal today sought to differ from him saying the Congress had done well to increase seats and vote percentage.

''The Karnataka result should not be seen as a setback as the party has won more seats and the vote percentage has gone up,'' he said while interacting with the media here.

The senior Congress leader said the party was satisfied with the Karnataka results but expressed his disappointment over the Congress status in Uttar Pradesh.

''A lot has to be done in UP to strengthen the party at grassroots level,'' he suggested.

When his attention was drawn to the reported growing proximity between the Congress and Samajwadi Party, the MP from Kanpur said no one was untouchable in politics and Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav would be welcomed only if he was keen to shake hands with Congress to strengthen secular forces.

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