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Why is Lagadapati leaking pro-Naidu surveys?

Why is Lagadapati leaking pro-Naidu surveys?

Former Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal may not be directly entering politics, as he has taken a virtual political sanyas.

But he is definitely doing politics by doing unsolicited surveys, most of which are favouring ruling Telugu Desam Party of late.

His exist poll survey for the Nandyal assembly by-elections predicting victory for the TDP has proved absolutely correct and in fact, the magnitude of the majority has surprised even Lagadapati. Even in Kakinada municipal corporation elections, his quick survey favoured the TDP.

And a latest survey, supposedly done by Lagadapati team, also indicated that the TDP will emerge as the single largest party in the 2019 elections and the YSRC will end up in third position, is also seen as a positive for the TDP.

So, why is Lagadapati, known as Andhra Octopus, doing surveys that favour the TDP?

According to party sources, Lagadapati is not interested in politics, but wants to wriggle out of the financial crisis he has been facing. That is precisely why he is regularly coming to Andhra secretariat and meeting TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

Sources said the power purchase agreement between the AP government and Lagadapati’s power company – Lanco Kondapalli Power Project has expired last year and AP has no obligation to purchase power from it.

Since there are no other buyers of its power, Lagadapati has no option but to sell Lanco Power to AP under buy-back agreement, or get the PPA extended, so that it will continue to get crores of rupees in the form of fixed costs.

Thanks to intense lobbying, it is learnt Naidu has agreed to extend the PPA with Lanco Kondapalli power.

Though this is a huge burden on the people, Naidu doesn’t mind for the simple reason that Lagadapati belongs to his caste and his surveys would help the TDP regain its morale!

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