Polls 2011: Congress steps up attack on BJP, Left

Congress today stepped up attack on BJP and Left after their poor show in elections in five states.

"BJP contested 761 seats in the assembly elections in the five states and could win just five. I wonder whether the main opposition party is a national party or a notional party," party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters in Delhi.

On the Left, he said that its "decline" started from 2008, when they voted against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) during the Indo-US nuclear deal.

"A message went in the country that they are anti-development. It has culminated in 2011 with their thorough defeat in West Bengal. Left should review what it should do when the choice is between a rejected ideology and development," Tewari said.

He, however, admitted that the results in Tamil Nadu were a "setback" from the party and it needed to be looked into.

Tewari at the same time made it clear that the party's alliance with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will continue.

Asked about the results Kadapa bye-election where Jaganmohan Reddy won defeating Congress candidate with a huge margin, Tewari said the mandate was in nature of a tribute to the former Andhra Pradesh chief minister late YSR Reddy, who is widely respected in the region.

He also regretted that Jaganmohan Reddy adopted a course which was unfortunate.