Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi Sunday accepted the party's defeat in the elections to the  Maharashtra and Haryana elections.

 

 "We accept the verdict of people. People have voted for a change, after 15 years of our government in Maharashtra and 10 years in Haryana," Gandhi said in a statement issued by his office.

 

 He said the Congress will "work hard on the ground to once again earn the confidence of the people".

 

 He congratulated the Bharatiya Janata Party on its electoral success.