Sonia and Rahul Gandhi accept responsibility for poll debacle
16 May 2014
At a brief media appearance at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi on Friday, Congress pary chief and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Congress party vice president and election campaign chief Rahul Gandhi congratulated the new government and wished them all the best
Rahul Gandhi, who spoke first, said the BJP has got the mandate of the people.
"I congratulate them... I wish them all the best," he said.
He said the Congress had fared badly in the elections and the party would need to reflect over its defeat.
"As Congress vice president, with all humility I take responsibility for this," he said.
Sonia Gandhi followed with "the people's mandate is against us and I humbly accept the verdict... As Congress president, I take responsibility for it."
Congratulating the new government, she added, "We hope that it will not compromise with the social unity and national interests. Congress will continue to fight for its principles and will not make any compromise," she said.
The two, however, did not take any questions, leaving the venue within a couple of minutes.