Cong says ‘ourselves to blame’

Gloom surrounded the Congress-NCP camp that got trounced badly in the city. Congress MP Vilas Muttemwar said: “We accept people’s verdict and also congratulate the BJP-Sena combine. But we are ourselves to blame for the showing. When leaders give out confusing signals,workers also are in disarray. We lacked in co-ordination.” “Many leaders openly said there was no need for pact with NCP. Those who didn’t get ticket blamed leaders. When leaders like Sharad Pawar and Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan underscored need for alliance,all should have accepted it whole-heartedly,” he said.

A former MLA and Muttemwar’s opponent was one of those who had opposed the alliance.

Muttemwar also blamed “confusion” in electoral rolls. “In my family,while some voted in one booth,others had to go to other booth. There were a lot of changes in rolls,particularly of our traditional voters in Muslim areas and slums. We are going to take it up soon,” he said. He also said defeat of BJP Mayor and her Sena Deputy showed that all wasn’t well with the so-called saffron alliance victory.