Chiranjeevi Questioned Allu Aravind's Integrity

The latest and hottest issue happening in the Praja Rajyam Party is not the election plan but the battle between Allu Aravind and the rest of the dissidents. So finally, Allu decided to drop curtains on all that and came up for press meet. He was charged up emotionally and lashed out at all who accused him.

Top in the list was Parakala Prabhakar. However, stressing his loyalty towards Chiranjeevi, Allu said that he would not let even a bullet get to Chiru without passing him. He also made it clear that he would be worried and react only if Chiru questions his integrity. This line has raised few eyebrows.

The emotional press meet from Allu Aravind seems to strengthen the gossip that Chiru indeed questioned Allu on the happenings. Allu was worried a lot for Chiranjeevi questioning his integrity regarding selling tickets. Reports say that the meet from Allu Aravind was solely due to the ‘touch up’ that Chiru had given to him. He indirectly addressed Chiru that he was hurt for questioning him. So Bava-Bavamaridi strife has begun.

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.

Lok Satta Swallowing TDP

Lok Satta is swallowing TDP in urban areas. A good majority of educated voters are tending to vote for Lok Satta. It is revealed that the SW groups had favoritism for Chandrababu till a few months back but now Lok Satta Jaya Prakash Narayan replaced that. Many such voters those have shown loyalties for Naidu have now shifted their interests to Jaya Prakash Narayan. There is evidence for this as SW employees are campaigning for JP on roads of Kukatpally today. The biggest loss due to Lok Satta is being faced by TDP. Naidu always used to boast that SW employees are behind him. But those days have gone as and when he made senseless promises to people with color TVs, free rice etc. Well Lok Satta is crwoling ahead of TDP in urban localities.

Crowds are same For Jr NTR and Pawan Kalyan

When young Tiger Jr NTR took off with his road shows in the Vizag and the Srikakulam regions, there was a huge response in terms of crowds. Similarly, when power star Pawan Kalyan came to these places, the response has been equally same with many people coming to his meet.

The interesting part is, the same faces that were seen during the NTR meet were also found to be attending Pawan meet. When asked about it, they say that the idea of coming to the meet was not out of political support but just to see the stars. This has been the case with mobs in road shows.

So, it has now become evident that star power only works for the road shows. But it does not work at the polling booths. Maybe that’s one fact both TDP and PRP must realize given the amount of cine glamour they have used for this elections.

TD man is richest candidate

Mr Tera Chinappa Reddy of Nalgonda district, who is contesting on a TD ticket from Nagarjunasagar in Nalgonda district, has been declared the richest among candidates contesting in the first phase of Assembly polls on April 16. His assets are worth Rs 85 crore.

The National Election Watch released the details of the 1,833 candidates contesting in 154 Assembly constituencies that go to polls in the first phase. NEW secured the details under the RTI Act. Mr Kasani Gnaneshwar of Mana Party from the Qutbullapur in Ranga Reddy district has assets worth Rs 41 crore and is the second richest candidate.

Ramoji Rao Says 'No' For Survey

Ramoji Rao has given strict warnings for his ETV 2 crowds not to work on any political surveys to roll on small screen. He said it seems that TDP is doubtful and hence it further brings damage if actual figures are shown in survey. Ramoji knows that Congress is going to grip majority in this election but not willing to announce that by any chance. In fact there is chance for ETV2 to manipulate figures in their survey and project TDP is stronger. But people would laugh seeing that as majority channels are saying Congress would win.

Almost all the TV channels are coming up with surveys but ETV 2 is not. The reason behind that is as said above.

On the other hand the district editions of Eenadu are saying that Congress would lose in Cuddapah distric completely. It also said that YSR may win from Pulivendula only if luck favors him. It added that there would be toughest fight for YSR from TDP. People laughed reading that joke of the season in Eenadu.

Rahul, Jagan are choice No. 1

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy are the most sought-after campaigners of the party in the state.

As AICC general secretary, Mr Gandhi, is able to impress people with his speeches, the Congress leaders are keen to have him at public meetings in their respective places. With the success of his public meetings at Anakapalle, Mylavaram, Kothakota and Qutbullapur, the state party leaders have requested Mr Gandhi to campaign for the ruling party candidates in other places too.

“Rahul looks like his father Rajiv Gandhi. Attacking Opposition parties with direct questions is his strength. That is why there is a large crowd at his meetings. His campaign will certainly boost the morale of the party cadre,” said Mr Rudra Raju Padma Raju, MLC and PCC general secretary. In the state, Mr Jaganmohan has become the new icon for the party. He has successfully targeted the Opposition, particularly the Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi. Mr Jaganmohan’s statements on Chiranjeevi and the TD chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, are being well received. With a successful tour in Guntur and Prakasham districts, leaders from other districts are now requesting him to come for road shows in their constituencies.

The success of these two leaders has come as a boon for the Congress as the TD is unable to deploy its young campaigners before the elections.

The TD’s star campaigner, Actor Junior NTR, who was hospitalised after an accident at Mothey of Nalgonda district, is not in a position to resume his road shows as the doctors have advised him rest.