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By-poll loss doesn't reflect govt's performance: PM

October 18, 2011 18:37 IST

The results of the by-polls cannot be seen as a reflection on the performance of any government, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Tuesday.

He was speaking to media personnel on the sidelines of the India-Brazil-South Africa summit in Pretoria, South Africa

"One by-election in a particular part of the country cannot be considered a reflection on the performance of my government or the Congress party," he told reporters.

The PM was responding to Bharatiya Janata Party's senior leader LK Advani's comment that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance had to heed the warning of the electorate.

"It is the people's warning to the government that they are tired of the prevailing corruption. The results of the by-polls are a reflection of the government's inability to govern," Advani had said.

The Congress was defeated in the by-polls held in Hisar, Haryana and Khadakwasla, Maharashtra, whose results were announced on Monday.

Shishir Bhate In Pretoria