Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), the popular political consultancy firm presently working out strategies for the ruling YSR Congress party in Andhra Pradesh, has vehemently denied having conducted a survey on the poll prospects of various political parties ahead of next year assembly elections in the state.
On Thursday, the I-PAC tweeted on its official handle that a media channel in Andhra Pradesh has shared a fake survey linking it to I-PAC.
Though it had not named the media channel, it was obviously referring to ABN-Andhra Jyothy which aired a report on a purported survey conducted by I-PAC.
“Let's set the record straight: I-PAC does NOT conduct any surveys. Any survey attributed to us on media/social media platforms is entirely untrue. These are baseless and desperate attempts by certain individuals or groups,” the I-PAC team said in the tweet.
It appealed to the people not to get misled by the survey and the report carried by ABN-Andhra Jyothy channel and any other such media houses.
What did ABN-Andhra Jyothy channel report about the purported I-PAC survey?
It said the I-PAC had planted some “paid surveys” in the so-called national television channels which reported that the YSRCP led by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy would get 24-25 MP seats in Andhra in the next Lok Sabha elections.
It translates into 168-175 assembly seats. The TDP may, at the most, end up with just one Lok Sabha seat which means just seven assembly seats. These surveys gave zero Lok Sabha and assembly seats to Jana Sena Party of Pawan Kalyan and other parties like the BJP and the Congress.
The channel said an internal survey conducted by the I-PAC for YSRCP projected a completely contrasting picture.
The I-PAC survey, according to ABN-Andhra Jyothy, revealed that the YSRCP would be able to win only three MP seats for sure – Kadapa, Rajampet and Araku.
On the contrary, the TDP will certainly win 15 Lok Sabha seats. In another seven Lok Sabha seats, there will be tough contest but the TDP has an edge, particularly in Godavari districts and parts of north-Andhra.
The ABN-Andhra Jyothy report, quoting I-PAC survey, said the YSRCP would get a maximum of 35-50 assembly seats, whereas the TDP would alone would get more than 100 seats.
If the TDP joins Jana Sena, the combine would sweep the polls, the fake survey circulated by ABN-Andhra Jytohy said.