The predictions made by "survey specialist" and former Congress MP from Vijayawada Lagadapati Rajagopal a couple of days before the polling in Telangana assembly elections held on December 7, seem to have ruined the prospects of several Congress party candidates.
Lagadapati predicted that the Maha Kootami had bright chances of coming to power and had an upper hand in several districts.
He also said 8-10 independents would win the elections and make a dent in the prospects of Telangana Rashtra Samithi.
In the normal course, the survey should have boosted the morale of the Congress candidates. But they are learnt to have become overconfident and relaxed in the last two days, which are actually crucial for any candidate.
On the other hand, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi took Lagadapati’s predictions seriously and worked overtime to last minute poll management. As a result, it could win with huge majority in the elections.
Now, the Congress candidates are crying foul over Lagadapati’s survey. Senior Congress leader and former MLA Soyam Bapu Rao attributed his defeat to Lagadapati's survey which, according to him, had thrown voters into confusion.
“Lagadapati predicted that independent would win in the Boath constituency. As a result, even the voters who were interested in voting for me went into second thoughts and voted for the independent. This has turned an advantage for the TRS,” he said.
He cited time constraints as another reason because of which he could not take up door to door campaigning, resulting in the defeat
Rao urged the party workers to be united and work for victory in the upcoming Panchayat elections.
"One day match has just been concluded. Now get ready for the T-20 match" said Mr. Bapu Rao while referring to Assembly and Panchayat elections.