The Congress Party on Saturday attempted to downplay its dismal show in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, saying the people have kept votebank politics above development.

Justifying his party's alliance with the Samajwadi Party, Congress leader Rajeev Shukla said the formula of association did not fail.

"Akhilesh Yadav brought about development in the state. In order to strengthen that development, the Congress allied with the Samajwadi Party. The people of Uttar Pradesh today have kept votebank politics above development," Shukla told ANI.

Ending speculations that the victory in Uttar Pradesh would boost the BJP's prospects in the next general elections, Shukla asserted that the electoral scene would be different in 2019.

"Just like they did nothing at the Centre for three years, they are going to do nothing in UP as well. The people will realise their mistakes then," he said.

While trying to cover the defeat in Uttar Pradesh by marking success in Punjab, another Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal said they were sure that they would win owing to the SAD-BJP government's failure in the state.

"We were aware in UP that we have less numbers. If you say defeat, it is in Uttarakhand. We are neck-to-neck in Goa and are leading in Manipur," Bansal told ANI.