Even though Vijayawada MP Kesineni Nani has clarified that he is not going to call it a day anytime soon and that he would contest the 2024 elections, the rumour mill refuses to go quiet. There is a buzz that two-time MP and industrialist Lagadapati Rajagopla could make a comeback as an alternative to Kesineni Nani should the latter decides to call it day.

Though Rajagopal himself has not said anything about his comeback, the buzz is refusing to die. Rajagopal was at the forefront of the agitation to keep AP united. He opposed it tooth and nail and even attacked with pepper spray those MPs who attacked him inside parliament on the issue of Telangana. He had said that he would keep away from politics if Telangana was formed. In fact, he kept his word and did not contest in 2014 and 2019.

He was the news through his political surveys. However, his 2019 prediction went completely wrong. He had predicted a TDP victory, but the party was badly routed. Since then, one has not heard of Lagadapati. However, with Kesineni Nani’s tantrums, Lagadapati’s name has come to the fore once again. In the event of Nani withdrawing from the arena, the TDP might field him for Vijayawada MP seat, according to sources.

Even now Lagadapati has considerable hold on the voters in the Vijayawada MP constituency. There is a section of the party which strongly feels that he would make a good candidate. Interestingly, Lagadapati neither denied nor accepted the rumours.

Ex-MP and Survey Specialist Lagadapati Rajagopal has taken the ultimate decision. He has said good bye to election surveys. He had already said at the time of releasing his poll survey at Tirupati that he would not give his predictions in future if his current survey on AP fails. It is a painful decision for him as he had already quit politics after the failure of Samaikyandhra agitation that was waged to keep AP united. He faced serious criticism for the failure of his Telangana survey in 2018.

Rajagopal’s prediction on present AP election was that TDP would win 90 to 110 MLA seats while the YCP would get 72 +/- 7 seats. The actual poll results had totally proved his survey wrong. YCP had won 151 seats while TDP had to be satisfied with just 23 seats with Jana Sena winning remaining one. No independents have won.

Rajagopal conveyed his best wishes to CM-in-Waiting YS Jaganmohan Reddy on his spectacular victory. At the same time, he called upon TDP boss Chandrababu Naidu to play the role of a constructive opposition party. Rajagopal expressed regret for the failure of his AP survey and he asked for pardon if his survey had hurt anybody in any manner.

A day ahead of exit polls, Ex MP Lagadapati Rajagopal created a sensation with his indirect hint at the undoubted victory of the TDP. He made a subtle but definite statement. Telangana voters chose KCR’s Car as that state had a rich budget. AP has got a deficit budget which is why these voters chose TDP Cycle. Social media is abuzz with reactions to this. Lagadapati is going to release his exit poll predictions at 6 pm in Tirupati. His statement triggered pro and anti-TDP comments on social media. The YCP fans threatened to target Lagadapati once Jaganmohan Reddy assumes charge as the chief minister.

Another Jagan fan said that Telangana people had a rich budget and they chose AC Car while AP voters chose YCP Fan as they have a deficit budget. Lagadapati’s failed projection in Telangana 2018 polls was also recalled by some respondents who say that exact reverse will happen in Andhra favouring Jagan. Another YCP sympathiser said that naturally, everybody would prefer an AC Car but nobody will ride Cycle in hot summer which is why they will be happy with fan.

Many people in Telugu states remember Lagadapati Rajagopal as Andhra Octopus, who predicted the results of many elections accurately, rather than as a former member of parliament. However, his predictions during Telangana elections went miserably wrong and he lost credibility. However, many people still believing it as just an aberration and eagerly waiting for Lagadapati’s prediction for AP results.

Lagadapati attended NRI meet and greet event held at California and opened up on TS results. He told, he will reveal the exact reason why his predictions failed during Telangana elections on 19th May. He told, he will also announce his predictions for AP results on the same day. However, he added, ‘welfare and development’ will win this time and the statement interpreted by many as a pro-TDP statement.

Until May 19th, there is a ban on exit polls and so Lagadapati cannot reveal the predictions now even if he has data available. So, we need to wait till May 19th to know two things – one, predictions for AP and two, what went wrong with Lagadapati predictions during Telangana elections.