Hyderabad: In this conversation, Mr Rao acknowledges that “things change so quickly”, “surveys aren’t rosy” and “If we don’t win I might go back to US or elsewhere. Can’t sit in opposition.”
The screenshot of the chat shared by Rajgopal.
Soon the minister’s team was put to task to take on AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, calling the screenshot fake. Both Mr Rao and Mr Rajagopal disowned the conversation. Nonetheless, Mr Rao’s desperation was evident as he kept tweeting while Mr Rajagopal was addressing the media on Wednesday.
Screenshot of the chat shared by minister K.T. Rama Rao.
Mr Rao compared Mr Naidu to the brother of Hitler’s propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels who was making his cronies (Mr Rajagopal) “release more nonsense through his pet media houses and social media.”
In response to the tweets, Mr Rajagopal on Wednesday during a media briefing said the minister had hurt his reputation by making a public conversation private.
Fake
According to Mr Rajagopal, Mr Rama Rao met him on September 16-17 at the home of a close relative. He said, “KTR wanted to find out about the survey which came out through a media house. He asked about it; it was done by our team. On September 17, I sent him an email of the report. At that time, everything was in favour of the TRS as the Congress, Telugu Desam, and Kodandaram (of the TJS) had not formed an alliance.”
Mr Rajagopal also made a big revelation that he had suggested the TRS ally with Mr Naidu. Mr Rao reportedly said it was not possible. Mr Rajagopal said that the formation of the Prajakutami created intense competition while previously it was a one-man show.
Mr Rajagopal shared screenshots of his conversation with Mr Rama Rao held on September 17, November 5, November 8, and November 11 regarding poll surveys, after their meeting.
He clarified that upon Mr Rama Rao’s request to conduct a survey of 23 constituencies he went ahead and conducted it in 37 constituencies whose outcome displeased Mr Rao and eventually led to the social media drama.
Mr Rajagopal said that since Mr Rao didn't believe the report, he tried to pacify the minister. However, Mr Rao during his media interaction on Wednesday confirmed to having the conversation with Mr Rajagopal and pointed to Mr Naidu as the mastermind behind the survey.
He even said “This is a mind game by Lagadapati and Naidu just before the elections. Similar thing was done in 2014 to defeat the YSR Congress. Now they are trying to do it in Telangana but they won’t get success.”
