Congress in a bind as regional parties play Andhra split card

The last Lok Sabha poll results also marked an improvement for the national party as it had won four more seats as compared to 2004, when 29 MPs were elected on Congress tickets from the state.

Congress also won the assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh twice consecutively in 2004 and 2009, dashing the hopes of regional heavyweight TDP to capture power.  

However, the situation has taken a massive turn after the Congress-led UPA government went ahead with the creation of a separate Telangana state, ignoring stiff opposition from Seemandhra leaders cutting across party lines.  

The rank and file of Congress collapsed with several Union ministers from the region resigning, while some like D Purandeswari switched over to BJP.

Moreover, the party also suffered a setback following the launch of JSP headed by former Congress Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.