Congress uses money power in politics: Mahesh Sharma

New Delhi [India], Mar. 14 (ANI): Slamming Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi over his assertion that one of the main reasons for the BJP's astounding victory in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections was polarisation, Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma on Tuesday alleged that the grand old party has always used its money power in politics. "Congress has always used money power. Raising questions on such an honest man like Manohar Parrikar is not accepted, but we can't help it as it has been in their culture. Manohar Parrikar is the right man to head the state of Goa, no one better than him can take his position," Sharma told ANI. Earlier today, Gandhi alleged that one of the main reasons for the BJP's victory in Uttar Pradesh was polarisation. "The BJP won the elections in Uttar Pradesh. I would like to congratulate them. There are many reasons why they won it, one being polarisation," Gandhi told the media outside Parliament here. Downplaying the allegations levelled against the Congress that they are not allowing the regional leaders to come up and the party's top brass was disconnected with them, he said, "We formed the government in Punjab. We won the elections in Manipur and Goa. That's not a bad result." "It's true that we lost in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. If you look at our Uttarakhand elections and in Punjab, who are running these elections? It's the regional leaders, who are running it. They are the people, who fight the elections and they have been successful in Punjab, Goa and Manipur," he said. The Congress vice-president also admitted that various structural and organizational changes need to be brought in within the party. The BJP won 312 of the 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh and its allies emerged victorious in 13 seats. In Uttarakhand, the BJP won 57 of the 70 seats at stake. (ANI)