Research institute Lokniti-Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) has slammed a Telugu newspaper for carrying a ‘fake survey’ that they attributed to the institute. Stating that Lokniti-CSDS did not carry out any election survey in Andhra Pradesh, the research institute had condemned the 'fraudulent' reporting by Andhra Jyothy, which is known to support TDP.

Andhra Jyothy is a prominent regional newspaper, often called out for being a mouthpiece of the ruling TDP. On Monday, they published a report on their front page claiming that Lokniti-CSDS had predicted that the TDP led by Chandrababu Naidu would sweep the Assembly polls with 126-135 seats, while the YSRCP would get 45-50 seats in the upcoming Assembly polls. Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party would win 2-5 seats, the report claimed. They also aired the report on their news channel, ABN Andhra Jyothy. The state has 175 Assembly seats and 25 Parliament seats.

Condemning the news, Lokniti-CSDS issued a  statement which read, “Some social media platforms and print media have circulated findings of survey purported to be made by Lokniti-CSDS in Andhra Pradesh projecting vote shares and seat shares. Lokniti wishes to clarify that it has not done any survey in Andhra Pradesh, that it was not associated with any such survey, that it has not placed in public domain any reported findings and the news that is being circulated is mischievous and malafide.”

They added, “Lokniti-CSDS further wish to clarify that it is in no way responsible for the fraudulent reporting and findings about the so-called survey.”

In its report, Andhra Jyothy also claimed that the TDP would win 18-22 MP seats, while the YSRCP would win 3-5 seats.

Andhra Jyothy has been banned by the YSRCP from their press briefings and interactions, for being biased. The party’s president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has often called them ‘yellow media’, a reference to the party color of TDP.

Along with Andhra Jyothy, the party has recently banned TV5, another Telugu news channel. The party said that they wouldn’t send any representatives for their debates and wouldn’t allow them to cover their events.

Andhra Pradesh will go to polls on April 11, where the state would vote for both MLAs and MPs in a single phase.