Striking contrast at rival camps

A pall of gloom descended over Chandrababu Naidu's esidence and in sharp contrast jubilant crowds swarmed the house of Rajsekhar Reddy.

A pall of gloom descended over TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu's Jubilee Hills residence and in sharp contrast jubilant crowds swarmed the house of Dr Y S Rajsekhar Reddy, widely tipped as the next chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, as the results and trends indicated a thumping victory for Congress.

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Naidu held discussions with district leaders since morning and appears to be resigned to the role of being the leader of opposition.

The everbusy residence of Naidu wore a deserted look this morning as the first result went in favour of Congress. A battery of camera crew waited outside his residence and word from `insiders' was that Naidu may speak in the evening.

In contrast to the gloom at Naidu's house, there was jubiliation at the Banjara Hills residence of Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy which elated party workers thronged with flowers and slogans.

Reddy, who is likely to take over the reins of the state, appeared at the entrance of his house to greet the crowd and is likely to go the nearby Panjagutta cross roads to garland the statue of Rajiv Gandhi.

Meanwhile, CWC member Ghulam Nabi Azad is likely to arrive in the evening to oversee the election of Congress legislature party leader tomorrow.

Senior party leader Shivraj Patil, who is in Tirupati, is also likely to join Azad in the evening.

The government has to be installed on or before May 13 to fulfil the six months deadline as the house was dissolved on November 14.