Lagadapati Releases Survey Showing TRS Defeat

Even as the surveys conducted by many national agencies predicted victory for the TRS in Telangana in the December 7 Assembly elections, former Congress MP and Andhra Pradesh businessman Lagadapati Rajagopal today released the results of a survey that he himself had conducted, which said that the Praja Kutami might have an edge over the TRS, and that eight to ten independents might make it to the Assembly.

The survey results, however, raised many doubts, and Telangana caretaker minister K T Rama Rao questioned its genuineness, and contended that Lagadapati had altered the results under pressure from TDP boss and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to mislead the voters.

Supporting his claim, KTR shared a message Lagadapati had sent him on November 20 on Twitter, in which the latter had clearly stated that the survey showed that the TRS was likely to get 65 to 70 seats, the Praja Kutami 35 to 40 seats, the BJP 2 to 3, the MIM 6 to 7, and others 1 to 2 seats, and that he had shared the outcome with Naidu as well.

Lagadapati had further said in his message to KTR that the efforts of the TRS over the last two weeks had been very good, and that the way the party dealt with various issues had brought extra momentum to it.

When KTR replied, "We shall surpass those and surprise you," Lagadapati said, "17 days left for campaigning, and knowing your campaign management skills, nothing will surprise me. We have seen it in the GHMC elections."

KTR claimed that quite contrary to the earlier predictions, Lagadapati was now claiming that the Praja Kutami was likely to have an edge and that the situation was in favour of the alliance.

Lagadapati is known to be anti-Telangana - he worked to prevent the formation of a separate Telangana, and had even used pepper spray to stall the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill in the Lok Sabha.