Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday acknowledged that the party's poll debacle in Karnataka was a setback, even as efforts are on to form a committee that would suggest ways to revitalise the party.
"Definitely, the defeat in Karnataka is a setback for the party," Gandhi told reporters at Fursatganj airport before winding up his daylong visit to Amethi.
He did not elaborate but his comments came as the party was in the process of deciding on a committee of leaders that will suggest ways and means to revitalise it.
The committee will present its report to party President Sonia Gandhi within 15 days of its formation.
The Congress Working Committee held a brain-storming session on Saturday to review the party's electoral performance in Karnataka, where the Bharatiya Janata Party formed the government.
Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi, meanwhile, refused to give credit to the BJP for the electoral result, saying it had not emerged victorious but only the leading party.
"It's not a majority in Karnataka for BJP. They barely got through by getting 10 to 15 seats more than others," Singhvi told reporters in Delhi.