Exit poll results for the assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and West Bengal were announced on Thursday. The pollsters predicted a cliffhanger in West Bengal where Mamata Banerjee is seeking a third term as chief minister, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is assured of winning a majority of more than 200 seats. The predictions, however, were on the expected lines for Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry.
India Today-My Axis India predicts BJP’s likely win of 134-160 seats in Bengal and Banerjee’s close win in 130-156 constituencies. The ABP C Voter exit poll, on the other hand, has predicted a clear majority for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) with a likely win of 152-164 seats and the center governing party securing 109-121 seats. The story however pans out differently for Republic CNX’s predictions.
The projections leaned towards BJP securing 138-148 seats while Trinamool with 128-138 seats. TV9-Polstrat and News 24 Today’s Chanakya, on the other hand, have predicted a clear majority for TMC followed by BJP.
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As for Assam, the pollsters expect BJP’s come back with the Congress trailing in second place. While ABP C Voter and TV9-Polstrat expect a tight race between the two parties, with the BJP taking the lead, others, including India Today-My Axis India, Republic CNX, and News 24 Today’s Chanakya, predict that the BJP will gain far more seats than the Congress.
Exit polls estimate that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) alliance will sweep the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, while the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIDMK) alliance will win between 38 and 85 seats, according to various pollsters.
Only ABP C Voter has predicted a Left Democratic Front victory in Kerala on 71-77 seats and a United Democratic Front victory on 62-68 seats. According to all other pollsters, the Left would win a second term in the southern state with a landslide.
The exit polls also predicted a clear win for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Puducherry, a first for the Union Territory.
The estimates are based on pollsters stationed outside voting stations surveying people who have voted. Exit surveys, which are based on the premise that electors correctly revealed their preferences, are often incorrect. The real outcome can be known only after all four states and the Union Territory have finished their vote counting, which is scheduled for May 2.
