LS victory to help Cong for Maha Assembly polls: Chavan

The victory in the Lok Sabha polls would aid the Congress in the upcoming Assembly elections but a study would need to be undertaken to rectify losses in the state, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said today.

"We need to study the results, understand it and try to rectify it assembly elections. However, the victory in the Lok Sabha elections will give us an undertanding of voters and will help us in our preparations for the upcoming Assembly polls," Chavan told reporters at the state Congress office.

Losses in areas like Vidharba were due to local issues which would need to be studied, he said. The defeat of RPI candidate Ramdas Athawale was unexpected and they would need to study the reasons behind his loss, Chavan said. The Chief Minister was dismissive of the MNS having aided the Congress in winning seats in Mumbai and other parts of the state by eating into BJP-Sena votes.

"Last time the BSP had played role of spoiler in Vidharba and this time the MNS has done that," he said. "I would not cash on their performance and would say that it is Congress policies that have won us the votes," Chavan added.