BJP leader and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday attributed the party's resounding defeat in the Bihar assembly elections to its motormouth leaders whose remarks had "deflected from the main theme of development".
"I did try to intervene on several occasions and correct that narrative. But... the camera has a special fondness for those who are capable of spoiling that narrative," Jaitley told NDTV.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had come to power at the Centre in 2014 on development agenda, managed to win just 53 seats in Bihar despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheading the election campaign in the state.
The finance minister also exuded confidence that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill would be passed in parliament. "I think GST will get through. It's only a matter of time," he said.
The GST bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha, was stalled by the opposition in the Rajya Sabha where the opposition is in majority.
Jaitley, who also holds the portfolios of corporate affairs and information and broadcasting, said the government was committed to push ahead with reforms.