Both Congress and TDP drew a blank in the by-elections to 12 assembly seats caused by the resignations over the Telangana issue.
TDP lost the lone seat it was holding while Congress candidates, including party's state unit chief D. Srinivas had to bite the dust.
Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, who is from outside Telangana, said he respects the people's verdict. Party general secretary and state incharge M. Veerappa Moily said in New Delhi that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) won due to "local factors".
Congress leaders from Telangana lashed out at party leaders belonging to Andhra and Rayalaseema regions for opposing the demand for a separate Telangana state.
Senior Congress leader from Telangana and former minister G. Venkatswamy blamed leaders from Andhra for the party's defeat.
Another leader from the region T. Jeevan Reddy termed the poll results an "eye opener" for those opposing the separate Telangana demand.
Congress legislator Shankar Rao said he was happy over the election results as people, through their verdict, paid tributes to 600 "martyrs" of the Telangana movement. He said the results had increased the responsibility of the Congress party to carve out a separate Telangana.
TDP's senior leader in Telangana N. Janardhan Reddy wanted his party leaders from other regions to reconsider their opposition to a separate state.
It may be recalled that strong protests by Congress and TDP leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions had forced the central government to go back on its announcement last year to start the process for formation of Telangana state.
Meanwhile, the demand for the PCC Chief D Srinivas owning responsibility for the party's poor performance is also growing. Those who are demanding for his resignation wanted a mass leader like Y S Jaganmohan Reddy as the party chief. "Jagan alone can revive the party's future poll prospects. Or else, the party losing even 2014 elections can as well be a foregone conclusion," said a senior Congress leader from coastal Andhra.
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