Rahul takes every election seriously: Cong

Congress today brushed aside Union Minister Jairam Ramesh's suggestion that Rahul Gandhi was focused more on party's long term future, terming it as his "personal" opinion and said the party as well Gandhi take every election seriously.

"That opinion of Jairam Ramesh is his personal respectable opinion. As far as Rahul Gandhi and Congress are concerned, we take every election seriously---be it big or small," Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told reporters.

BJP has latched on to Ramesh's comments as an admission of defeat.

In a media interview, Ramesh had remarked that his frustration was that Rahul Gandhi was too forward looking about building the party in the long term when facing the immediate short term challenge of elections.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said, "Practically even before starting the battle, they have conceded defeat.

"Ramesh cursing that Modi will be finished will not happen. This is exasperation and frustration. Therefore, they are cursing Modi which will not impact people who have decided to change the current regime.