New Delhi: Suffering one of the worst debacles, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today (Dec 9, 2003) asked partymen to prepare fully to regain the mandate in the next Lok Sabha elections as well as in States going to polls.

"We all have to draw appropriate lessons from our defeat in these three States and prepare ourselves better for the many challenges that lie ahead," Gandhi said, addressing the general body meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP).

She said it was natural for partymen to feel disappointed by the results of the recent Assembly elections, although the party has returned to power in Delhi and doubled its strength in Mizoram.

Gandhi said that the party's Governments in Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan became victims of a strong anti-incumbency sentiment, in spite of their acknowledged track record of achievements in growth and welfare.

Assailing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), she said that the elections saw a no-holds barred campaign mounted by the saffron party backed by huge resources. "And contrary to what is being claimed, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) were very much part of the BJP campaign, less publicly visible perhaps but very present nevertheless."

PTI