Over to Chiru in Andhra?

Cross-Voting May Give Congress More Seats In LS And Fewer In Assembly

Hyderabad: Telugu actor Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party— launched only a few months before the elections were announced— may well go on to decide who will form the next government in Andhra Pradesh.

The turnout was a high 68% in the second and final phase of elections held in 20 Lok Sabha and 140 assembly seats, following up on a similar performance in the first phase.

There were also talks about cross-voting — same person voting for different parties for the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. Many believe this will give Congress more seats in the Lok Sabha and lesser in the assembly. ‘‘It’s quite possible that now Chiranjeevi will decide who will become chief minister. But let us not take this as final and wait for the results,’’ said a Congress leader.

Praja Rajyam is likely to cut into the votes of Congress in a majority of constituencies. What seemed to have worked in favour of the newly created party was the ruckus created by Congress supporters on poll-eve in a five-star hotel in Tirupati where Chiranjeevi was staying with his family.

Congress activists alleged that Chiranjeevi had kept loads of money in the hotel to lure voters. “The incident portrayed Chiru as a victim and gained him sympathy,” said the Congress leader.

Congress and the N Chandrababu Naidu-led Grand Alliance are brimming with confidence about their chances in the second round, all the same.

Some political observers even warned of a surprise — the state may be headed for a hung assembly, something never seen before in this part of the world. The first phase of elections was held for 22 Lok Sabha and 154 assembly seats.

On Thursday, voters braved the scorching summer heat — in some places the temperature was over 44 degrees Celsius — to reach polling booths.

There were stray incidents of violence. A Congress worker was killed in clashes with Telugu Desam Party workers in Addanki assembly constituency in Prakasam district. Congress and TDP activists clashed in Kadapa and Chittoor districts.

Repolling was ordered in 24 polling booths in Kadapa, Anantapur, Ongole and Prakasam after miscreants damaged several electronic voting machines.