The results of the by-elections to 12 assembly seats in Telangana region are a sort of setback for chief minister K Rosaiah, who has been facing a threat to his government due to revolt from the Congress party MLAs loyal to Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

After the Telangana bypoll results, the Jagan camp has intensified the demand for making him the chief minister to save the party from further rout in the coming days. “The results have clearly showed that they are unhappy with the Rosaiah government. Had former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy been alive or his son Jagan been allowed to take out his Odarpu Yatra in Telangana, the Congress party would have won at least half a dozen seats,” said suspended PCC general secretary Ambati Rambabu remarked.

He said at least now, the party high command should hand over the reins of the state to Jagan if the party has to bounce back in the future elections. Otherwise, it would be a big disaster, he said. Former minister T Jeevan Reddy also said Rosaiah should have campaigned in the region, irrespective of the people’s verdict. It would have given morale booster to the party cadres, he said.