Congress has faced worse times, and bounced back: P.C. Chacko

New Delhi, May 19: As election results from five states appeared negative for the Congress, party leader P.C. Chacko on Thursday said it has faced "worse circumstances" but always bounced back.

While "accepting" the defeat in Assam, the Congress leader also said that the result in Kerala was not as per expectation.

"In the past, we have faced worse circumstances. But we have the tendency to bounce back every time," Chacko told IANS.

He attributed the loss in Assam to anti-incumbency, and also stressed that the decisions were taken by the state unit of the party.

"We accept the defeat in Assam. There was a strong anti-incumbency against the government. Decision was left to the state units and all the strategies were designed by them... the national leadership just approved their strategy," Chacko said.

"We backed our Tarun Gogoi, we had confidence in him. We did not go for any opportunistic alliance in the state," he said.

Chacko added that the party leadership will analyse the reasons for the defeat.

"Results are not as per our expectations in Kerala. However, the BJP is terming its opening account in the state as historic.. That is their mindset; we believe in winning. Prime minister himself campaigned in Kerala and they are leading in just two seats," Chacko added.

Asked if the election results will push the case for Rahul Gandhi taking over as party president. Chacko said: "He can take charge as Congress president any day he wants."

IANS