New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS) The Congress Sunday accepted defeat in elections held in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi and said it will introspect why it lost.
"Our congratulations to those who have won in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan," party leader Jayanthi Natarajan said. "People have given them a mandate. Our wishes go to them."
She added: "In Delhi, we accept the verdict and will examine the results. We will find out what has gone wrong."
Election officials said the BJP was on the road to retaining Madhya Pradesh and ousting the Congress in Rajasthan. In Chhattisgarh, the BJP and Congress were locked in a close contest. The Congress was in the third spot in Delhi after the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party.
We will introspect, says Congress
"We are disappointed with the results that have come in," said a crestfallen party leader, Randeep Singh Surjewala.
But he quickly added that a defeat in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi might not reflect on national mood ahead of Lok Sabha polls due next year.
"We must remember that these five states account for only 73 Lok Sabha seats," he said, also including Mizoram, where the vote count will take place Monday.