The crushing defeat of the ruling Congress party and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the Telangana by-elections has triggered rumblings within the two parties over the Telangana statehood issue.
Leaders of the Congress from Telangana blamed their counterparts in other regions of Andhra Pradesh for the loss, while TDP leaders from Telangana advised those opposing separate statehood to reconsider their stand.
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.
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