Congress terms Andhra by-poll results 'people's mistake'

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.

YSRCP bagged Nellore Lok Sabha and 15 assembly seats while Congress won only two assembly seats. Meanwhile, Telegu Desam Party chief and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, whose party drew a blank, said the party would go into the reasons of the rout. He said public sympathy following the arrest of Jagan by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could have helped the YSRCP to win the elections.