HYDERABAD: The day after panchayat election results were announced, the Congress claimed the verdict was on expected lines and that it need not feel disappointed.

"Voters have reposed faith in the Congress Government led by Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and the result is there for everyone to see," Finance Minister K. Rosaiah and his Cabinet colleagues N. Raghuveera Reddy, Dharmana Prasada Rao and K. Ramakrishna besides Chief Whip N. Kiran Kumar Reddy stated at a press conference on Wednesday.

"We had doubts about the party's performance in Khammam, Nalgonda and Adilabad districts," Mr. Rosaiah said, adding the outcome showed only the districts had changed but not the overall Congress tally. Analysing the results, Mr. Rosaiah stated that in Khammam the TDP-CPI (M) alliance raised doubts about the Congress' performance there, but the outcome proved otherwise. In Nalgonda, where the Left parties are strong, Congress bagged the ZP.

Best coach

He denied that the Congress had cheated its alliance partner TRS. "The party had worked in tandem with its allies." Improvement in TDP tally in Telangana could be because of its alliance with the CPI (M).

Mr. Reddy said YSR proved to be the `best coach and teacher' as he had single-handedly ensured Congress victory. Mr. Rosaiah and Mr. Reddy owned up responsibility for the defeat of party candidates in Chirala and Anantapur districts.

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