Introspect on your role, Cong tells Delhi leaders

The war of words within the Congress intensified on Wednesday, a day after the party registered the lowest-ever percentage of vote share in Delhi elections, and the party warning its Delhi leaders that
"blame game is not appreciated in the party."

First to quit was Subhash Chopra as Delhi Congress chief to be followed by party in-charge for Delhi P.C. Chacko.

The party reacted sternly with Congress Chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala warning that "blame game is not appreciated in the party." He told party leaders to "introspect on your role before commenting on others and don't cross the limit of discipline."

"The party leaders should review their role during the elections and campaigning. They should also look at how they have performed," said Surjewala.

Dismissing claims that the party withered during Shiela Dikshit's time, Surjewala said under the chief ministership of Dikshit, Delhi had a golden period becuase she did commendable work for the city.

Reprimanding party leader Sharmistha Mukherjee, Surjewala said: "In democracy public is supreme if the public has given mandate to Kejriwal, then we are bound to accept the mandate and will work as responsible opposition."

Earlier in the day, Mukherjee had lashed out at her senior party colleague P. Chidambaram for gloating over Aam Aadmi Party's victory.

Mukherjee, who is the daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, said: "With due respect sir, just want to know -- has Congress outsourced the task of defeating BJP to state parties?

"If not, then why are we gloating over AAP victory rather than being concerned about our drubbing? And if 'yes', then we (state party units) might as well close shop."

Her remarks were in response to the former Finance Minister's taunt at the BJP for its defeat, saying AAP won and the "bluff and bluster" lost.

In a tweet, Chidambaram said, "AAP won, bluff and bluster lost. The people of Delhi, who are from all parts of India, have defeated the polarising, divisive and dangerous agenda of the BJP.

On Tuesday, Mukherjee, who had contested unsuccessfully from Greater Kailash Assembly seat in the 2015 polls, also said "enough of intropsection" and that "time for action is now".

She blamed the lack of strategy and unity, delay in decision-making at the top level and at the state level for the continuous party debacle.

The party, which got 22 per cent votes in the Lok Sabha polls held last year, ended up with less than 5 per cent vote share in the Delhi assembly polls. Congress leaders have blamed excessive polarisation among voters in which the party could not become a choice of any side.-IANS