A day after declaring the names of two independent candidates who are likely to win the coming assembly elections in Telangana, former Congress MP from Vijayawada Lagadapati Rajagopal has gone silent on Saturday.
Lagadapati, who has gained popularity as Andhra Octopus, for his near accurate election predictions, said on Friday that independents would hold the key in deciding the fate of the parties coming to power.
“Around eight to 10 independents will win the elections in Telangana and are going to play a crucial role in the formation of next government,” he said.
He announced that he would declare the names of two winning independent candidates every day hereafter.
He said an independent Shiva Kumar Reddy would win the Narayanpet assembly seat, while in Boath constituency in Adilabad district, another independent Anil Jadhav would win the seat.
But on Saturday, Lagadapati did not disclose any other names, even as tension was mounting among the potential independent candidates who are giving tough fight to the official candidates. However, the former MP remained silent.
He told a channel last night that he had disclosed the two names only when media persons pressured him.
With Lagadapati’s survey creating ripples in the political circles, TRS filed a complaint against him with Election Commission for making statements which could influence elections.
As per the EC norms, though surveys are not banned, disclosure of names of prospective winners is against rules.
Probably realizing his mistake, Lagadapati went silent. He will now disclose the exit polls on the evening of December 7.
“The Telangana voters are going to give an intelligent verdict this time, without succumbing to the lure of any political party,” he said.
