Praja Rajyam

Hyderabad: Internal surveys by the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party apparently seem to claim that Chiranjeevi may draw crowds, but would not be able to transform them into votes. Reliable sources in the two major political parties say that the Congress survey points to the ruling party getting at least 137 seats, while the TDP survey points to N Chandrababu Naidu’s party getting around 140 seats. However, the respective surveys seem to say that the entry of Chiranjeevi has voters polarised on caste basis, particularly in Krishna, East and West Godavari districts. According to the TDP survey, Kapus (including the sub-castes like Balijas, etc) constitute about 22 per cent of the total population, but it is unlikely that Chiranjeevi would get all the votes of his community. “Chiranjeevi has die-hard fans in the Congress and the TDP, as has been indicated by the crowds that he attracted in the north coastal region, but our survey indicates that all this will not transform into votes for him,” said TDP parliamentary party leader K Yerranaidu. Both the surveys also seem to warn the respective parties that first-time voters will be attracted to Chiranjeevi. Because of the entry of Chiranjeevi, the surveys indicate that Kammas, who constitute about nine per cent of the state’s population, are preferring the TDP as their first choice and, ironically, Congress as their second. Reddys, who constitute about eight per cent of the population, appear to prefer the Congress as their first choice and, again, ironically, the TDP as their second preference. Women, the Backward Classes and upper castes, have been found by the surveys as ‘undecided’ and possibly tilt towards Chiranjeevi. Hence the surveys command the Congress and the TDP to immediately focus on these sections. The TDP survey sees price rise, alleged corruption in irrigation and housing projects as going against the Congress, while the ruling party survey points to same development schemes, rural employment guarantee scheme, the Rs 2-akg rice scheme and ‘pavlavaddi’ as the sops that would fetch the party the 137 seats. However, both the surveys left a margin of 30 to 40 seats either way depending on the possible alliances that can materialise between the Congress on the one side and the TDP on the other. “The TRS, T Devender Goud and the Left parties will have a say on these 30 to 40 seats depending on which of the two main parties they sail along with,” said one leader. UNLIKELY HERO? Cong survey gives the party 137 sure seats while TDP survey claims the party will win in 140. Both surveys wary of first-time voters’ tilt to the actor Courtesy: TimesOfIndia