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Summary India's Congress party blames its state leadership for the dismal performance.
After an initial introspection Indias federal ruling Congress party blamed its state leadership for the dismal performance in the northern Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections.The Congress party flop in Indias most politically vital state Uttar Pradesh (UP) was also a blow to the already-tottering government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, reducing his scope to re-launch reforms and reverse a slowdown in economic growth.Speaking to mediapersons after meeting with Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi, party general secretary Digvijay Singh said that he was extremely hurt, disappointed and guilty after the result was announced.He added that the Congress state leadership in Uttar Pradesh had let the party down.With the count nearing its conclusion on Tuesday, the Congress party was trailing in fourth place in UP, which with 200 million people would be the worlds fifth-most populous country if independent.It looked set to win about 28 of the state assemblys 403 seats, a marginal improvement on its lacklustre performance there five years ago and far short of the 100-plus tally it had boasted Gandhis tireless election campaigning would deliver.Congress sought to shield Gandhi from blame, arguing it was up to local lawmakers to convert his electioneering into assembly seats.
