"Surgical Action" Needed, Says Congress Leader After Delhi Humiliation

Expressing concern over the Congress debacle in the Delhi Assembly elections, senior party leader M Veerappa Moily said on Wednesday the time to act is now as he called for a "surgical action" to revive the outfit.

The Congress drew a blank for the second time in a row and saw its vote share dipping from 9.7 per cent in 2015 to 4.27 per cent this time.

M Veerappa Moily, a former union minister, argued that the Congress could not perform because its "vote banks have been transferred to AAP as they thought only he (AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal) can defeat the BJP."

"That's how the people have come to that conclusion. no use in supporting Congress party; otherwise it will benefit BJP," the former Karnataka Chief Minister told PTI.

"We are concerned. The scenario of Delhi is that people (voters) didn't take Congress seriously. They thought that they should not divert their votes, our own vote banks which normally used to come to us, have gone to AAP," he said.

M Veerappa Moily said the Congress is concerned and worried about the humiliating defeat in Delhi, adding, "it''s a lesson which we have to learn."

The focus now should be on reviving, rebuilding and rejuvenating the party, he said. "Congress requires total rejuvenation. You can't point (fingers at) out one or two leaders (for electoral setbacks), accountability will have to be taken by every Congressman...rank and file," M Veerappa Moily said.

"Now, this is the time to act for rejuvenation of the party. It has to be revamped. Surgical action will have to be taken so that it starts yielding the results," he added.