Home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday rejected claims that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat's comments on the quota system negatively affected the National Democratic Alliance's performance in the Bihar elections. Singh also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot be held responsible for the NDA’s heavy defeat. He reiterated finance minister Arun Jaitley’s remarks on Monday that “social equations of the Grand Alliance” had cost the BJP-led alliance in Bihar.

Bhagwat had said that there is a need to have a fresh look into the quota system, which kicked up a political storm ahead of the Bihar polls. Singh said, “Bhagwat’s statement was not damaging. It was nothing controversial. We can’t think like that. He had only said that reservation should continue.” Singh also ruled out Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah being asked to step down following the Bihar debacle.