Sonia, Rahul take responsibility for Congress' worst defeat

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi Friday took responsibility for the party's worst drubbing in the national election, but did not give credit to Narendra Modi for the BJP victory.

Making a short statement to the media - without entertaining any questions - at the party headquarters after it became clear that party would be relegated to around 50 seats, Sonia Gandhi said: "The Congress faced its rivals in the elections on the basis of policies and principles. Despite that we failed to get the majority we had thought we would get."

"We believe that in a democracy winning and losing is part of the game. This time the mandate is clearly against us. I accept the mandate with humility. I hope that the incoming government will not compromise with the interests of society."

"I want to congratulate the new government," she said, but did not name the Bharatiya Janata Party or its leader Narendra Modi, who is set to become India's next prime minister.

"The Congress will always fight and never compromise with the interests of people.

"I want to thank the people for their votes, and as president of the party I accept responsibility for its defeat," she said

Rahul Gandhi, who appeared to have a fixed smile on his face, said he wanted to congratulate the new government, but he too did not mention either the BJP or Modi.

"They have been given the mandate by the people, I want to wish them the best."

"The Congress has done pretty badly, and there is a lot to think about. As vice president I take the responsibility for the party's defeat in the Lok Sabha polls," Rahul said, almost a repeat of what he said after the party's defeat in the November asssembly election.

Mother and son then quickly left, declining to take any questions from the thronging media.