Assembly poll outcome "wake up call" for us, KPCC chief

Ruling Congress in Karnataka today said it views the party's debacle in Assembly polls in four states as a "wake up call" and would ensure that "mistakes" committed are not repeated in Lok Sabha elections in the state.

"We have taken it very seriously. We view it as a wake upcall. Both the government and the party will ensure that mistakes committed there are not repeated here," KPCC President G Parameshwara told reporters here.

After basking in the glory of its spectacular victory in the May Assembly polls that brought it to power, the Congress is now readying itself for the Lok Sabha polls with 28 seats at stake in the state. In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had won 19 seats and Congress six.

He said the party had also taken note of the sudden emergence and success of Aam Admi Party. "It (AAP) has to be watched. It will be watched."

On Governor H R Bhardwaj being critical of functioning of some ministers recently, Parameshwara said, "we don't want to drag him (into a controversy)." As the constitutional head, the Governor had made some observations. We can't fault him for that. We always welcome positive criticism."

Asked about the functioning of ministers, he said the government was doing well overall and "some ministers may be more active and some others a little slow as they have to adjust themselves to the new positions but they would be asked to speed up."