Rahul Gandhi's campaign against BSP misrule helped SP: Congress

Congress today sought to take some credit for Samajwadi Party's victory in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, saying Rahul Gandhi had made immense contribution to creating atmosphere against the misrule of Mayawati which benefited Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Party General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters that the vote against BSP in the polls showed this development clearly.

"Rahul Gandhi has made immense contribution to creating an atmosphere against the misrule of Mayawati which ultimately benefited Mulayam Singh Yadav," he said.

Besides, he said, that Gandhi fought a political battle in UP as against the Mulayam-Mayawati clash which was more personal in nature.

Dwivedi said there were various local and other factors for the Congress's defeat in the state.

As regards Punjab, he said the defeat there was certainly a setback for the party.

He said there could be many reasons for the defeat but one of them appears to be the laxity on part of the state units.

"Though the atmosphere was in favour of the Congress, the organisation there did not take the desired efforts to turn it into victory," he said.

He denied suggestions that the projections of Amarinder Singh as the CM candidate created problems for the party.

"I don't think so. There was a general impression that only Amarinder Singh will be the CM. It was not a hidden fact," Dwivedi said.

Asked whether the outcome in the Assembly polls would have an impact on the governance at the Centre, he replied in negative.