Ahead of results, Cong gears up to move MLAs to 'safety'

The Congress is gearing up to keep its flock in Telangana together and prevent poaching of MLAs, in the event of a hung assembly, after the results of the elections are declared on Sunday, people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

- Srinivasa Rao Apparasu

Though a majority of exit poll surveys indicated that the Congress would cross the absolute majority mark of 60 seats in the 119-member assembly, and displace the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) that has ruled the state since its inception, a few surveys predicted a hung House with no party getting a clear mandate.

"If such a situation arises, BRS president and chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao (popularly known as KCR) would make every attempt to lure some of the Congress MLAs into his party fold so as to gain the absolute majority. In any case, the BRS has the support of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) as a backup," a senior Congress leader said, seeking anonymity.

To be sure, exit polls are not always accurate and have often got the verdict wrong in earlier elections, especially in states with diverse populations, castes and communities. But they are useful in identifying trends.