In her first address to the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) after the electoral setbacks in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Goa, she said that unity and discipline was the key to success in future electoral battles.
"We must all shed all manner of factional behaviour, and fight as one disciplined team at all levels. That will be the single-most important factor to decide whether we win or lose. People look to us--but we need to show them our commitment and our unity if we are to convert this sentiment into electoral victories," Gandhi said.
She sought to gloss over the loss in Uttar Pradesh where the campaign was led by her son Rahul saying that Congress had increased its vote share "quite considerably". The Congress got a vote share of 11.6 per cent and won 28 seats in the March elections this year compared to the 8.6 per cent vote share and 22 seats in the 2007 polls.
With a series of state elections approaching, Gandhi said the partymen "must draw upon lessons of the previous polls".
While Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are scheduled to have assembly elections this year end, polls are due in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan next year.
Without naming BJP-ruled Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, she gave clear hints that the Congress would take up the issue of corruption aggressively there in the wake of CAG and Lokayukta reports.(More)