Leaders wary of poll survey agencies

PATNA: Political parties and leaders are no longer just going to astrologers to predict the number of seats they will get in Bihar.
According to a Congress source, the removal of Jagdish Tytler and Anil Kumar Sharma could be the result of a survey carried out by an internationally reputed agency in Bihar. “The results of the survey indicated that out of the 243 assembly seats, the Congress had a good chance of winning about five dozen seats.It also indicated that in another 90 seats, the party may pose a challenge if it gets its caste equation and candidates right,” remarked a Congress leader.
The survey has asked the party to concentrate in the five dozen seats which consists of sitting seats, seats where the party fared well in last year’s bypolls and Lok Sabha (LS) seats where the party’s vote percentage showed an upswing movement. A section of the state Congress leaders believe that the survey report has convinced the AICC that it had a chance to get 50 seats if the party could get its acts right and ultimately may play a crucial role in government formation in case of a hung assembly.
However, the Congress is not the only party which is carrying out surveys. A few months ago reports indicated that the JD(U) had carried out a survey which indicated that the NDA would get 170 of the 243 seats. RJD chief Lalu Prasad was amused. “Why only 170 they should have taken all the seats,” he remarked. Political pandits point out that 170 figure would only be possible if the LS voting pattern is replicated in the coming assembly polls.
Incidentally, the coming assembly polls will be the first one which will be held on delimited seats. Several political leaders cutting across party lines are hunting for new seats or unsure of their own seats after delimitation about the new caste strength. Several national survey agencies have approached MLAs proposing that they should get their seats surveyed. The price tag was Rs 3 lakh per seat. “I turned down the offer. I believe on the feedback I get from the people,” remarked RJD MLA Ram Chandra Purbey.
Even deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi was not in favour of the survey. He remarked that he had seen three surveys which were sponsored by the BJP MLAs. “I was disappointed. The agencies appear to lack political understanding about castes and their numbers,” he said. Modi stressed that he would prefer the opinion of party workers. Of course, political observers of Bihar, are quick to point out that most surveys conducted in Bihar have been wide off the mark.