Defeat in bypolls puts Congress in contemplation mode

“The defeat is shocking for us and it calls for internal strengthening. More importantly,the local workers’ voice will be heard now on and their views will have to be considered at the time of selection of the candidates,” said Amin.

He gave the example of the Jasdan seat where the party tasted defeat for the first time in six decades,saying that before being elected MP from Rajkot,Kunvarji Bavalia had promised to leave the seat for Patels. But at the time of distribution of the tickets,he ensured his daughter represented the seat. This displeased the local supporters,including Bharat Boghra who was expecting the ticket. He joined the BJP and won,Amin said.

GPCC president Siddharth Patel sounded disturbed.

Not acknowledging the internal bickering,he said the party had all along been expecting a spectacular show,adding that the results called for a thorough investigation into the reasons behind the debacle.

“We will investigate the reasons and will take necessary corrective action,” was all he said on being asked what the party planned to see that such thing was not repeated in the future.

He said it was too early to reveal to the media the corrective steps that could be anticipated.

Congress Legislative Party leader Shaktisinh Gohil did not divulge the possible roadmap the party may take in the near future in view of defeat in the by-elections. “We will certainly put our ideas together,the leaders will meet and analyse the reasons for the defeat but all that will not be divulged to the media,” he said.

He added that the BJP victory is not a popular mandate in strict sense,or else the BJP would not be compelled to poach Congress members in places like Jasdan.

“Why did Modi not give the ticket to people dedicated to the Sangh ideology in places like Kodinar?” he said.