Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh on Thursday accepted defeat in the assembly election, saying it was virtually a wave against the Congress.
"I had said if there is a wave, it will be difficult for us. It appears there was a wave," he said.
Singh reiterated he will not accept any party post, nor contest any election, for the next 10 years.
Asked whether he had underestimated his Bharatiya Janata Party rival Uma Bharti, Singh denied having made such an assessment. "I did not underestimate [Uma Bharti]. It went the other way because too much of personality was involved. It was a vote for a change."
He said he would sit in the opposition and discharge his responsibility in the assembly.
Singh, who ruled Madhya Pradesh for 10 years, said: "I will work as an ordinary party worker and work for bringing it to power in Delhi."
He indicated there would be a change in the state party leadership too. "People have voted for a change in the government and party and there should be change."