Congress faces setback in Andhra The Congress Friday faced a humiliating defeat in Andhra Pradesh by-polls where the YSR Congress bagged the Nellore Lok Sabha and 15 of the 18 assembly seats. The by-elections were held after the resignation of a MP and disqualification of 17 legislators of the Congress who had switched loyalties to the YSRCP.
Shocked over its defeat in the by-elections, Andhra Pradesh's ruling Congress party described the results as an "emotional mistake committed by people".
Reacting to the victory of YSR Congress Party, state Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana said public sympathy following YSRCP leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy's arrest in illegal assets case helped that party. "Such developments take place in a democracy," he said
Talking to reporters, he said the results don't give any clean chit to jailed leader Jaganmohan Reddy.
"Even Sriramulu won in Karnataka with a huge majority. It does not mean he is clean," said Satyanarayana, referring to the victory of an aide of jailed mining baron and former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhana Reddy in the by-elections in the neighbouring state.
"The results are an advance warning for us," Satyanarayana said in an obvious reference to 2014 elections.
The Congress leader said the party would analyse the reasons of party's defeat. He, however, said the hike in petrol price, erratic electricity supply and dissatisfaction among people might have led to the debacle.
Image: YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddys mother Vijayalakshmi (right), sister YS Sharmila (left) and wife Bharati come out of Chanchalguda jail after meeting him in Hyderabad on Friday following the party's success in the by-elections.


