Hyderabad: Fake pre-poll surveys are being circulated on social networking sites and through text messages on mobile phones in the name of ‘Andhra Octopus Lagadapati Rajagopal’.
The surveys, claimed to have been done by the former Vijayawada MP’s team, purports to show district-wise outcomes for different political parties. When contacted, Mr Rajagopal denied conducting any pre-poll survey. Mr Rajagopal, who quit politics after the bifurcation Bill was passed in Parliament, is indirectly supporting former chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy’s Jai Samaikyandhra Party.
In earlier instances, the seat prediction of surveys conducted by Mr Rajagopal with the help of Delhi-based agencies were found to be close to the poll results. But this time around his name is being misused, sources said. “If I had conducted the survey I would release it in a press conference. I am staying away from politics,” Mr Rajagopal said,
Initial surveys reportedly released by Mr Rajagopal had predicted 114 seats out of 175 in Seemandhra for the TD, 41 for YSRC, Congress five and 14 for others. The ‘fake’ survey shows the YSRC winning 134 seats with TD bagging 30, Congress seven and Jai Samaikyandhra Party four.
