'Rahul Gandhi's magic has worked'

Senior Uttar Pradesh Congress leader Mohsina Kidwai believes it is wrong to say that Rahul Gandhi's magic did not work in the state assembly elections and that the party failed to capitalise on the road shows conducted by the entire Gandhi family in its bid to boost the morale of the party and win more seats.

"It is not true that his magic has not worked. It has worked and that is why we have got more seats than last time. He has just begun to work in the state and we are in the process of rejuvenating the party at the grass root level," she said.

Kidwai, however, chose not to respond when asked whether the party would have secured just about 10 seats had Rahul not campaigned. The congress party had expected more than 45 seats in the state assembly elections.

She admitted that Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, with the kind of seat share she has won, may not need the assistance of the Congress party and would now be a major player in the election of the new President of India.