The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) issued the following statement on December 9, 2013. THE Congress party has suffered a major defeat in the four state assembly elections. It has been routed in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and lost in Chhattisgarh too. The defeat is more resounding as the Congress could not dislodge the BJP from the governments in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where the latter has been in power for ten years. The misrule and corruption of the BJP governments in these two states did not lead the people to opt for the Congress, as it was seen as no alternative, given the UPA government's economic policies leading to price rise and other burdens on the people and its track record of corruption. The BJP has been the beneficiary of the strong anti-Congress mood of the people in these states, except Delhi where the Aam Admi Party has emerged as a credible alternative to the Congress. In Rajasthan, the people's determination to get rid of the Congress government has led to a sweep for the BJP. This has adversely affected the prospects of the CPI(M). It has led to a disappointing result with the party losing its three sitting seats.