New Delhi: A pre-poll survey conducted by a private agency for the Congress shows it crossing 150 seats and emerging as the largest single entity in the general elections, a finding that probably emboldened it to go it alone in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The study commissioned by the Congress recently shows it making impressive gains in Left-ruled West Bengal and Kerala as well as improving its tally in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.
The findings, which were revealed to IANS by a trusted party source, do not take into account the PMK's decision to split from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and go along with the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu.
The agency is a reputed one but its name could not be disclosed because of the confidentiality clause.
According to Congress sources, the survey was exhaustive and covered all 543 Lok Sabha constituencies. A similar survey was conducted by the same agency in the last round of assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir and Mizoram that was more or less on the mark.
However, the survey also mentioned that the party's alliance with Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) would not have the edge it had in the last election in 2004.
Party insiders said that the survey played a role in the the Congress decision to take on RJD and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) in Bihar.
"If we do get that figure of 150, at least we will be in a commanding position of bargaining with post-poll allies to reach the magical figure of 272 seats," said a senior party leader.
In the last general election, the Congress won 145 seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party got 138 seats.
Polling for elections will be held in five phases beginning April 16 and ending May 13. Counting of votes will be held on May 16.
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