Faced with defeat in the byelections to 12 Assembly constituencies in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, the ruling Congress and principal opposition Telugu Desam Party said the Telangana Rashtra Samiti’s victory was “very much expected”.
Chief minister K. Rosaiah issued a one-line statement saying: “We respect the people’s verdict.”
APCC president D. Srinivas, who lost to his BJP rival Y. Lakshmi Narayana in Nizamabad Urban, said “very strong Telangana sentiment” worked in the TRS’ favour, enabling it to sweep the bypolls.
“The happenings subsequent to December 9, 2009, when the Centre first made a statement on the separate statehood issue, have worked in favour of the TRS. Added to it, the sympathy factor worked in favour of those who resigned from their posts, leading to their reelection,” Mr Srinivas said in Nizamabad.
Replying to a question, the PCC chief said there was no change in the Congress’ stand on the Telangana issue. “We are still committed to Telangana,” he said. The TRS has won Sirpur, Chennur and Mancherial, Siddipet and Dharmapuri constituencies among the 12 Assembly segments in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh where bypolls were held on July 27.