‘Problem is we have too many leaders’: Sonia on UP debacle

Like Rahul,she blames party structure,says people unhappy with its MLAs.

SONIA Gandhi today said that the Congresss performance in the assembly polls would do no damage to the UPA government. She echoed Rahul Gandhi in blaming organisational weakness for the defeat.

Sonia ruled out any possibility of PM Manmohan Singh stepping down as a result of the defeat. Asked about the Congresss PM candidate in 2014,she said: This is 2012.

Sonia spoke to reporters after two and a half hours of one-on-one meetings with Congress general secretaries or incharges in states that went to polls,and with other senior leaders.

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The Congress party has got support below its expectations. We accept it with all humility, she said.

Rahul has already told you about UP. Our party organisation is weak in UP.

On the partys poor show in Amethi and Rae Bareli,Sonia said: There have been such defeats earlier. It seems people were not happy with the sitting MLAs. The new candidates won.

Asked if the Congress was lacking leaders,she remarked: I would say rather than lack of leaders,too many leaders,that is our problem.

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Sonia attributed the setback in Punjab to the damage caused by Manpreet Badals Peoples Party of Punjab (PPP). The PPP damaged us on 23 seats. More than damaging the Akalis,they damaged us, she said.

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