If the MLAs who had defected from YSR Congress party to the ruling Telugu Desam Party are forced to resign from their seats, due to intervention from either the courts or the Election Commission, then 90 per cent of them would not get elected in the subsequent by-elections.
Sources said YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy got a survey conducted by an Uttar Pradesh-based private agency in as many as 21 Assembly constituencies, including 19 places represented by defected MLAs and two other general constituencies represented by a minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao and a TDP legislator Anitha.
Each constituency was surveyed extensively by four representatives of the agency to know the people’s pulse.
According to sources, the survey has revealed that YSR Congress party would sweep 18 out these 21 seats. Only in a couple of constituencies, the party may face defeat due to local factors. In fact, Jagan party would get huge majority in Kurnool, Allagadda and Nandyal assembly seats, which are considered to be bastions of Bhuma Nagi Reddy family.
That is precisely why Jagan is insisting on resignation of the defectors. He would step up his legal battle for their disqualification soon after his return from London trip, say sources.
