Chandrababu Naidu equates Jagan Mohan Reddy with Gurmeet Ram Rahim

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said that YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has similar qualities like rape convict Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, and added that YSRCP chief was inciting people for violence similarly like Ram Rahim.

He was addressing media after his party- Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-won Nandyal Assembly by-poll.

"Jagan bit his own tongue. His behaviour and verbal abuse made this very normal election a heated one and caught national attention. Jagan became like Dera Sacha Sauda baba. That baba cheated people on their beliefs and similarly 'Jagan baba' is threatening the system. His behavior lacks dignity and it spreads hatred. It is painful but Nandyal people gave a befitting reply to him," Naidu said.

He added that Reddy was spreading lies that many works started off by the State Government were not implemented.

"Jagan's criticism crossed all limits. I am in politics since 40 years. We even fought with Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi but I have never seen any leader stooping to such low," Naidu asserted.

He added that the State Government is successful in giving uninterrupted power, developed infrastructure, laid roads, working for farmers and waived crop loans.

"Development is our lone agenda. Our credibility lead to this victory and people believed us. Jagan walked length and breadth of Nandyal by-polls. He worked like a foot soldier, not like a leader. People know what the reality is," Naidu said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi congratulated Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for winning the Nandyal by-polls.

"Congratulations to Bhuma Brahmananda Reddy Garu & our valued NDA ally, TDP for the big victory in #NandyalByPoll,(sic)," he tweeted.

TDP candidate B Brahmananda Reddy won Nandyal Assembly seat in Andhra Pradesh, defeating YSR Congress rival S Mohan Reddy by over 27000 votes.

Celebrating near Naidu's residence, the TDP MLAs said that people have voted for the pro-development agenda set by the Chief Minister.

"The same results will be seen in future also. The voters have rejected the vicious and hate speech politics," he added.

YSRCP leader Jaganmohan Reddy's comments "to hang and shoot the CM Chandrababu in middle of the road" stirred controversies and are said to have a "negative" impact on his image and hence, could have served as the reasons for the party's loss.

In the last election of this constituency, the majority of winning party won by merely 3,000 votes. But this time it is said that the Nandyal Elections turned out to be one sided win from the beginning.

Reddy campaigned for nearly fifteen days, while many key veteran politicians in the party shifted their base to Nandyal for two weeks.

It is also a jolt for Election Strategist Prasanth Kishor who had entered into a pact with Reddy for the 2019 elections.

Earlier on Wednesday, voting was held under unprecedented security for the Nandyal by-elections.