Uttar Pradesh Defeat Hurts, Need Hard Decisions, Says Congress 

With the Congress staring at a drubbing in Uttar Pradesh, the grand old party today admitted that "the bad loss hurts" and said it needs to do "fundamental restructuring" in the state, calling for hard decisions.

While the Congress said the "loss" in the Hindi heartland it once ruled will be assessed, it defended party leadership saying it should not be judged over a short span.

The Congress also highlighted its performance in Punjab, where it is leading over Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

"Yes, UP is a bad loss, it hurts...I agree that, in UP, we need fundamental restructuring in thinking for the Congress as a whole. These have to be hard, tough decisions about strategy," Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.

Also Read: Economic Challenges The BJP Government Faces In Uttar Pradesh

Another Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad attributed the party's poor show in the politically crucial state to "public mood" and said its performance will be "scrutinised".

He, however, stressed that Congress' gains in Punjab and likeliness of the party forming government in Goa, ruled by the BJP until before the elections, should not be ignored.

"We are forming government in Punjab...In Goa, the BJP is not in position to form government. There is a possibility that we may form government there," the former Union Minister said.

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