Parties pull out poll calculators

With the first phase of elections just three days away, the Congress and the Grand Alliance have begun calculating how to reach the magic figure of 148.

Each party has survey reports predicting its victory. However, the worrisome caveat in each of the surveys is that the overall outcome depends on the poll percentage and polling in traditional strongholds of the parties.

Neither party is able to predict the outcome with any confidence. The voters have preferred to be silent, listening to all the campaigners and turning out at their rallies.

Another factor is the presence of rebels of all parties in the fray. Party leaders fear that while most rebels cannot win, they could steal chunks out of the traditional vote and hit its chances.

The first phase of elections will see polling in 154 seats in Telangana and north Andhra. In the second phase, elections will be held to 52 seats in Rayalaseema and 88 seats in coastal Andhra.

Congress surveys project 175 seats overall for the party: 60 in Telangana, 35 in Rayalaseema and 80 in Andhra. This figure has more or less stayed constant.

In Telangana, the Congress survey predicts 31 for the TD, TRS 9, CPI and CPI(M) 3 each, two for the Praja Rajyam and seven for the MIM. It says in another four segments the contest between the Congress and the Grand Alliance is deemed too close to predict.

The Congress gives itself 36 of the 45 seats from which the TRS is contesting, owing to the Telangana party’s internal rivalries, weak candidates, absence of statehood factor the possibility that it may not get alliance partners votes.

The TD’s internal assessment shows 45 seats for itself in Telangana, 10 for the Left parties and 25 for the TRS, totalling 80 out of 119 seats in the region.

Chiranjeevi’s Praja Raj-yam, which has been written off by both the main contenders, is expecting a “silent wave” in its favour.