TDP may fare well only in 3 dists of Andhra and Rayalaseema

TDP may fare well only in 3 dists of Andhra and Rayalaseema

HYDERABAD: The main Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which is expecting a simple majority in the Assembly to form the government, is likely to get a good number of seats only in three districts in Andhra and Rayalaseema. The internal appraisal of the party indicated that the TDP fared well in Guntur, Chittoor and Anantapur districts. TDP leaders are not confident of getting a fair number of Assembly seats in the remaining districts. With these indications, doubts are increasing in the party on getting a simple majority in the Assembly. The TDP, which had been strong in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions till 2004, is now skeptical about getting many seats in the areas where there is a triangular fight among the TDP, the PRP and the Congress. After analysing the poll trends, the TDP leaders are now revealing that the party would get more than 60 per cent of the Assembly seats in only three districts in Andhra and Rayalaseema. According to sources, TDP leaders are confident of winning more than 60 per cent of the Assembly seats in Guntur, Chittor and Anantapur districts of the total nine districts which went to the polls in the second phase on April 23. The TDP is expected to get 10 Assembly seats out of 17 in Guntur district. If there was a silent wave in favour of the TDP, the party would get a maximum of 14 Assembly seats, party sources said. However, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu expected that his party would sweep all the seats in Guntur district. In Anantapur, a TDP bastion, party leaders expect to win eight to 10 Assembly seats out of the total 14 seats in the district. Likewise, in Chittoor district too, the TDP is expecting to win seven to 10 Assembly seats out of the 14 seats in the district. TDP leaders are not sure of the party sweeping the polls in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, the twin Godavari districts, Krishna, Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa districts. Even in Krishna district, the PRP’s presence was strong in East Krishna, a TDP leader admitted. However, TDP leaders are not confident of getting a good number of seats in other districts. In such a scenario, the TDP would not get a simple majority in the elections to form the government, analysts felt. However, TDP leaders are exuding confidence that the Grand Alliance would form the next government. And, even though there are rumours that the TDP is in touch with some former TDP leaders who contested on behalf of the PRP in the elections, party general secretary K Srihari has dismissed such reports, saying, “We will form the next government. We are not consulting with leaders of the PRP.’’