The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Congress joy will be short-lived: Yanamala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 05, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Congress joy will be short-lived: Yanamala

By Our Special Correspondent

RAJAHMUNDRY, MAY 4. "The present celebrations in Congress circles will end on May 10. For the TDP, the celebrations will commence on May 11 when the results of the Assembly will be available," said the Finance Minister, Yanamala Ramakrishnudu. In fact, the `drama' was a repeat of what one had witnessed in 1999. Similar celebrations were there in 1999 also before the results were announced. "As we witness now, there was talk of a number leaders becoming `Chief Minister' and portfolios had also been allocated to various Congress leaders," the Finance Minister recalled. But one knew the final result of 1999.

Mr. Ramakrishnudu gave "reasons" for his optimism. The Minister divided voters into two categories -- men and women. According to his assessment, more than 75 per cent of women, who constitute half of the total number of voters, were solidly behind the TDP. Unlike men voters who were emotional, women voters would not reveal their mind even for exit polls. It was here that the exit polls were likely to go wrong, he said. This time the number of women voters who had exercised their franchise was more and this, according to the Minister, would go in favour of TDP candidates.

In the previous election also women had voted for the TDP, but this time there was consolidation of women vote bank in favour of the TDP, Mr. Ramakrishnudu claimed. According to Mr. Ramakrishnuudu at least 50 per cent of men would vote for the TDP. The combined voting percentage of men and women should help TDP candidates to win comfortably, Mr. Ramakrishnudu said. The TDP would retain power with comfortable majority, Mr.Ramakrishnudu said.

On exit polls, Mr.Ramakrishnudu said it was only an assessment based on `samples' taken mostly in urban areas and cities. This did not reflect the overall mood of voters, since rural and interior places, where majority voters would exercise their franchise, were left uncovered by exit polls. If exit pollsters revealed their methodology, a reasonable assessment might be made. But no exit poll revealed its methodology, Mr.Ramakrishnudu pointed out.

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