Despite the Telangana and Jagan factors weighing heavily on the Congress, "candidates" of the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh put up an impressive show in the co-operative elections held in the state.
Though the polls to the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) are held without party affiliation, the candidates are backed by one party or another. The polls have all the trappings of a routine election.
In the elections held for over 950 PACS in the first phase yesterday, the "candidates" of Congress reversed the trend of losses in several bye-elections during the last couple of years and reportedly won over 450 societies.
Debunking the talk that it is losing ground to rivals all over the state, main opposition TDP put up a decent show by reportedly wresting over 270 societies.
However, YSRC too scored impressive victories, also in Telangana, in over 160 societies followed by TRS with 60.
As the voters are mainly farmers, the results are supposed to be reflective of the ground situation in the rural areas.
TDP has reportedly done well in West Godavari and Khammam districts, while YSRC dominated in Kadapa and Anantapur districts.
The Congress nominees were said to be ahead in other districts.
Expressing happiness over the success of his party in the cooperative elections, state Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana told reporters that the farmers have reposed faith in the Central and state governments.
He hoped that the Congress would repeat its performance in the second phase of polls to be held on February four.
However, TDP and the YSRC alleged irregularities and misuse of power by the ruling party leaders.