Vijayawada: It’s Judgement Day for Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. The counting of votes for both assembly and parliament on Tuesday will clear the air of confusion created by the several exit poll results since June 1.
Despite red signals from some exit polls, the ruling YSR Congress is highly hopeful of retaining power as it believes the women and rural segments backed it to the hilt. Expectations are high among the Telugu Desam rank and file that the 3-party alliance will outwit the YSRC and grab power in the state by taking advantage of the “anti-incumbency” mood.
The assembly and Lok Sabha polls in AP were held on May 13. A heavy voter turnout of 82.73 per cent was recorded. For the 175 assembly constituencies, a total of 2,387 candidates were in the fray. The YSRC is expecting 94 to 140 seats, based on some exit poll predictions.
The TD-led alliance is expecting a clean sweep with 120 to 160 seats.
According to reports, both TD and YSRC conducted internal surveys and exit polls and came to the conclusion that the YSRC has the upper hand.
The YSRC started a poll results centre in its state office at Tadepalli for helping its candidates, leaders and cadres to resolve counting-related issues and problems. The TD has already established a coordination centre with experts including lawyers to handle the counting-related disputes, at the TD headquarters in Mangalagiri.
The postal ballots counting will start at 8am and the EVM courting at 8.30am. The first result is likely to be out around noon.
Leaderships of both YSRC and TD started planning post-result strategies in case no side wins the ‘Magic Figure 88’ (the majority) to form the government. Every such situation normally provides room for manoeuvring to turn situation to one’s advantage.
According to trusted sources, chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy along with top brasses in his party is planning to hold a crucial meeting on June 6, to discuss the post-results scenario, including a defeat for either side.
TD chief Chandrababu Naidu also started evolving strategies for last-minute manipulations to grab power this time.
In the 2014 exit poll, unclear verdicts were delivered by regional channels and agencies vis-a-vis the assembly poll results. While some organisations projected victory for NDA, others forecast a YSRC victory.
Amazingly TD strategic teams prepared a chart of 40 exit polls in which 35 exit polls predicted a win to NDA and only 5 favoured YSRC. Similarly, YSRC political strategic teams prepared a list of 32 trustable exit polls in which 24 predicted that YSRC would retain power while 8 gave thumbs up to the NDA.
The public who waited anxiously for the exit poll results were deeply disappointed as the different claims confused them. Political analysts said that in the 2109 elections, there was less confusion from the exit polls which came closer to the actual results. This time, the exit poll agencies were divided as to who would win power. Some saw a TD victory and others a YSRC win. JUne 4 will show who all came closer to truth this time.
