Look after Amethi with love, Rahul Gandhi tells Smriti Irani

NEW DELHI: In the wake of its electoral rout, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said he accepted the people’s mandate and took responsibility for Congress’ poor showing at the polls.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters after it became clear that the Modi government was returning to power with a clear majority, the Congress chief also said any decision on whether he should continue as party president would remain between him and the Congress Working Committee.
In a significant move, Congress has convened a meeting of the working committee on May 25 where the party is expected to discuss the election results and the future course of action for the party. The extent of defeat is exacerbated by the fact that the leader of opposition (LoP) post may elude the Congress for the second time in a row. While the party had only 44 MPs in 2014, it is expected to finish at 51 this time. Technically, the minimum tally required for a party to have the LoP post is 10% of the total strength of Lok Sabha, which comes to 54.
Accompanied by sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and a string of Congress leaders, Rahul congratulated PM Narendra Modi and BJP for their landslide win, emphasising that his party will continue to fight its ideological battle with the saffron party. Thanking party workers for their efforts, Rahul also told them to not lose heart.
Rahul also conceded defeat in Amethi, the Gandhi fief that he lost to Smriti Irani. Congratulating Irani, Rahul said, “I respect the decision of the people. This is democracy and I want Smriti Irani to to look after Amethi with love for the faith the people have shown in her.”