Rahul to begin review of UP poll debacle today‎

New Delhi, Apr 5: A blame game over the Congress debacle in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls is expected to begin on Thursday when Rahul Gandhi sets out on the task of analysing the outcome which had come as a rude shock to the party.

Gandhi, who led the party in the crucial polls, will be meeting state party leaders in New Delhi, in a move to set the house in order ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

The talk in the party is that the occasion could be utilised by some leaders to blame their detractors for the poor show and some Union ministers from the state are also expected to come under attack for their controversial statements as also moves to corner tickets to their loyalists.

AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh who has been abroad will not be present at the meeting despite being in-charge of the party affairs in the state.

Newly elected party MLAs and also MPs from the state have been called for the much-talked about meeting which was earlier scheduled to take place the previous week.

This will be the first formal review meeting of the UP polls by Gandhi, who has owned up responsibility for the defeat.

Candidates, who lost despite polling 20,000 votes and above, have also been called for a preliminary meeting with Gandhi on Thursday.

Gandhi had himself led the campaign in the state after being instrumental in securing 22 of the 80 seats in the Lok Sabha polls from the state in 2009 which was seen as a revival of the organisation.

PTI