'Not right to blame Rahul for UP defeat'

It is not right to blame Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for the party’s defeat in UP Assembly election, said Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge.

He was speaking to reporters here on Saturday. “No one can make a Congress-free India. In a democratic set-up, only people can put an end to a party. However, you can’t finish off a party by the mere heroics of political leaders,” he said, rebuking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statements.

Kharge said one doesn’t understand what is the ideology for which people have voted in UP. The party might have suffered as party president Sonia Gandhi didn’t campaign. A discussion will be held with prominent leaders on the reasons for defeat, he added. The results of five states will not have any bearing on Karnataka, he said, replying to a question.