Watch: Shashi Tharoor, Excluded As Congress Campaigner, Responds To Result | Read

As the Congress sank to its worst-ever performance in Gujarat, Shashi Tharoor, a senior leader from the party, said, "I am neither somebody who campaigned in Gujarat nor am I on the list of those who were expected to campaign so not having been on the ground, it's extremely difficult for me to give you an answer." Mr Tharoor's omission from the Congress' list of campaigners in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh came after he ran for Congress President against Mallikarjun Kharge, who was the choice of the Gandhis. The link between those two events seemed pronounced.