It’s a setback but let’s stay united now: Azad

NEW DELHI: Former Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad termed the election results in Kerala and other states as a serious setback for Congress but said it was not the time to dissect the performance or apportion blame, urging that the party should stay united and focus on fighting the Covid.

Azad showered lavish praise on TMC chief Mamata Banerjee who he said secured a landslide victory “inspite of all odds” and hailed DMK chief Stalin for emerging as a leader in his own right after his father M Karunanidhi’s passing.

The remarks from the veteran, who heads the dissident Congress bloc popular as G-23, suggested that the grouping was unlikely to air grievances now in view of the raging pandemic.

Speaking to TOI, Azad said, “As far as Congress is concerned, the results are not good, particularly Kerala which was very disappointing because this is first time in five decades that we have missed our term. This was totally unexpected. Yet, this is not the time to find faults with anybody. I want that Congress should be united and strong to fight the Covid.”

Azad also lashed out at the Modi government over its handling of the pandemic. “The government and the ministers of the ruling party are hiding and they should come out to provide moral support to people,” he said. (ToI)