Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao has rubbished the results of a survey purported to have been carried out by former Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal showing the Congress led grand alliance to be enjoying an upper hand in elections and said Mr. Rajagopal changed tack bowing to pressure from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
In an informal chat with media persons here on Wednesday morning, Mr. Rao said he had information that Mr. Rajagopal, Mr. Naidu and a couple of senior journalists met at a place here on Monday where the earlier survey results, as declared by Mr. Rajagopal, showing TRS winner in 65 to 70 seats were reversed.
It was only on November 20 that Mr. Rajagopal sent him messages twice confirming that TRS was to win in 65-70 seats. Mr. Rajagopal told him that the survey was done from October 20 to November 20. So, post November 20, the results have to be the same as shared with him. How can the results change when the survey ceased and there was no fresh one after that?, Mr. Rao asked.
He also said it was a shock to him that Mr. Rajagopal released the latest figures giving Congress-TDP a thumbs up. Mr. Rajagopal changed his stand owing to pressure from Mr. Naidu because the former had played an important role in the alliance between Congress and TDP.
Mr. Rajagopal initially wanted TRS to go with TDP when they met at a common friend’s house shortly after dissolution of Telangana Assembly on September 6. But, he had rejected the proposal, Mr. Rao said.
Initially, when TRS commissioned a survey by Mr. Rajagopal out of curiosity because he had a reputation of doing it closer to accuracy, Mr. Rao said the TRS was shown to be winning in 19 out of 23 seats surveyed. Gradually the former MP tilted towards the Congress and gave the party 35 plus seats. He protested the finding as it was different from ground situation, the Minister added.
He accused Mr. Naidu of playing mind game on TRS leaders using Mr. Rajagopal as pawn. Mr. Naidu used Mr. Rajagopal similarly against the former’s rival and YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy in 2014 elections.