For this purpose, the party leaders and workers got together on Saturday to engage in an exercise of ``soul-searching'' after its dismal electoral performance. The banner outside the venue, indicating their mood, read: ``Our defeat is an opportunity for soul-searching. It is also a challenge for revitalisation.''

JD(S) state president and former deputy CM Siddaramaiah -- who lost the Chamundeshwari seat -- summarised the reasons for the party's defeat, saying had the JD not split the party would have secured at least 70-80 seats. Voters had no choice but to elect the Congress since their aim was to defeat the ``communal'' BJP. They had not elect the JD because of the ``infighting'' in the party, he added.

Saying that the defeat should not lead to disillusionment, he said neither the BJP nor the JD(U) could be alternatives to the Congress because they ``have no political principles''.