Exit polls gave varied predictions in
the poll-bound States on Thursday. It gave advantage to BJP in Madhya Pradesh
and Rajasthan, a clear edge to Congress in Chhattisgarh and Telangana and the
ruling MNF was ahead in power sweepstakes in Mizoram.
While the exit polls were almost
unanimous in giving an edge to Congress in Telangana, where polling concluded
on Thursday, a few predicted a close call in Rajasthan with Congress too in the
lead and an exit poll gave a little edge to the party in Madhya Pradesh too.
A poll predicted that Zoram People’s
Movement will win decisively in Mizoram.
Five States went to the polls this month
with counting slated for December 3. The polling in five States that are in
northern, eastern and southern parts of the country, came months before the
next Lok Sabha polls.
Exit polls predicted that Congress is
poised to form the government in Telangana and that the ruling Bharat Rashtra
Samithi (BRS) would fall short of the majority after its 10-year rule in Bharat’s
youngest State.
The Times Now-ETG exit poll gave 38 per
cent vote share to BRS, 43 per cent to Congress and 13 per cent to others in
Telangana. It said the ruling party in the state is poised to win 37-45 seats,
Congress 60-70 seats, BJP 6-8 and others 5-7 seats.
Republic TV exit poll gave Congress
58-69 seats and the BRS 46-56 seats. It said BJP could win 4 to 9 seats and
others 5 to 8 seats.
The poll predicted a 41.60 per cent vote
share for BRS, 43.30 per cent for Congress, 10.80 per cent for BJP and 4.30 for
others.
The India TV-CNX exit poll predicted
63-79 seats for the Congress, 31-47 for the BRS, 0-2 for the BJP and 5-7 for
others.
The exit polls said two regional players
in Mizoram – MNF and ZPM – are in the race to form the government in Mizoram
with most predictions stating that the ruling party led by Chief Minister
Zoramthanga has an advantage in the Northeastern State while there is also a
possibility of a Hung Assembly.
Mizoram went to the polls on November 7
for its 40-member Assembly. The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) faced a
challenge from the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), Congress and BJP.
According to India Today-Axis My India
poll predictions for Mizoram, the Zoram People’s Movement is poised for a
massive victory in Mizoram and could win 28-35 seats.
It said the ruling MNF is expected to
win 3 to 7 seats. MNF, the poll said, will get 27 per cent votes and ZPM 49 per
cent votes. Congress is poised to get 20 per cent votes, the exit poll said.
Times Now-ETG poll gave 14-18 seats to
MNF with 32.20 per cent vote share, 10-14 to ZPM with 29.30 per cent votes and
said that Congress is expected to get 9-13 seats with 27.80 per cent vote
share.
India TV-CNX poll predicted 14-18 seats
for MNF and 12-16 seats for ZPM. It said Congress is expected to get 7-10
seats.’
Republic TV gave a 32.60 per cent vote
share to the MNF, 14.60 per cent to ZPM and 31.20 per cent to Congress. It gave
17-22 seats to MNF, 7-12 to ZPM, Congress to get 7-10 seats and one seat to
BJP.
In Madhya Pradesh, most exit polls said BJP
has a clear advantage as they predicted Congress falling short in its poll
effort in the state where it was expecting to gain from “anti-incumbency”
against the government.
Most exit polls predicted that the BJP,
which has ruled the state for almost 18 of the past 20 years, is set for
another term in office with a huge majority. An exit poll gave advantage to the
Congress and another predicted that the two parties were on an equal footing.
Madhya Pradesh went to the polls on
November 17 for its 230 seats and the counting of votes along with that in four
other states will take place on December 3.
In Rajsathan, exit polls reinforced the
perception of a hard contest with differences in their prediction of the winner
in the crucial Hindi heartland State that has a nearly three-decade tradition
of not repeating an incumbent government.
The exit poll predictions showed that “others”
including smaller parties and Independents could play a crucial role in the
formation of the government when the results are announced on December 3.
Rajasthan went to the polls on 199 of 200 Assembly seats on November 25.
In Chhattisgarh, exit polls gave
Congress a clear edge, showing that the ruling party in the State is poised to
return to power with the BJP also expected to put up a good contest unlike in
the 2018 polls.
While three polls predicted a clear
victory of Congress in the State, others said the party was in the winning
range. The Congress fought the election with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel at
the helm.
According to ABP C-Voter predictions,
Congress is poised to win 41-53 seats in the State which has a 90-member Assembly.
The exit poll said BJP is poised to get 36-48 seats and others 0-4 seats.
The India Today-Axis My India poll
predicted Congress getting 40-50 seats, BJP 36-46 seats and others getting 1-5
seats.
The Republic TV exit poll gave Congress
44-52 seats, BJP 34-42 seats and 0-2 polls for others.
India TV-CNX poll predicted 46- 56 seats
for Congress, 30-40 seats for BJP and 3-5 for others. The numbers for Congress
and BJP in the Jan Ki Baat exit poll were 42-53 and 34-45 respectively and it
predicted 0-3 seats for others.
Counting in four other States that went
to the polls this month will also take place on December 3. The polls, held
months before the Lok Sabha polls, are crucial for BJP and Congress for various
reasons.
ANI
