Congress downplays by-election results

NEW DELHI: Drawing a blank in Lok Sabha and assembly by-elections in four states, Congress on Wednesday downplayed the results which gave a major boost to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi with BJP sweeping Gujarat while his detractor Nitish Kumar suffered a blow in Bihar.

"These are local elections and they should be seen such. Don't see them as results of national elections. Every state has its own character....Read it in local context", party spokesman Sandeep Dikshit told reporters in response to a volley of questions on the issue.

Asked whether Lalu Prasad's RJD has become a "natural ally' of Congress in Bihar after the verdict in Maharajganj Lok Sabha bypoll where it defeated ruling JD-U's candidate, Dikshit said the party high command and the local Congress leadership decides on alliances.

Asked whether the Maharajganj bypoll result showed that Bihar Chief Minister has lost his áura'and 'magic', Dikshit suggested it was not there.

When told that the Gujarat Chief Minister feels that the bypoll outcome indicated that people have lost confidence in Congress, Dikshit pointed out that BJP has failed to open its account in states other than Gujarat in the bypolls. He said the mood of the people in the country will be known in 2014.