Once bitten, twice shy, former Congress MP from Vijayawada and once a controversial leader Lagadapati Rajagopal has stopped talking politics for quite a long time.
He has been keeping away from media limelight and active political scenario in Andhra and Telangana.
Lagadapati, who earned the sobriquet of Andhra Octopus for his near-accurate pre-poll surveys in the past, turned out to be a hoax during the 2019 general elections, when he predicted that the TDP would return to power for a second time.
But when his survey turned out to be fake with people giving a massive mandate to YSR Congress party led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Lagadapati announced that he would stop making political predictions thereafter. He also announced that he won’t contest the elections again.
Subsequently, Lagadapati disappeared from the state poliical arena.
A few months ago, he was spotted at the residence of Mylavaram MLA Vasantha Krishna Prasad, triggering speculations that he might make a re-entry into politics.
But he declared that he had no such intentions and he had met Krishna Prasad only at a marriage function as a matter of courtesy. Since then, he has been making public appearances on and off at some private events.
On Tuesday, Lagadapati caught the attention of the media at Tirumala after having the darshan of Lord Venkateshwara during the VIP break.
He told reporters that he had come to Tirumala along with his friends and relatives for a darshan.
When asked to comment on the state political situation, Lagadapati refused to speak.
“I prayed the Lord to see that Andhra Pradesh prospers and the people are happy. I want everybody to have good thoughts. That’s all,” he said, without commenting further.
Maybe, Lagadapati will surface again before 2024 elections with some predictions. Till then, he is unlikely to talk about the politics.
