Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress party, disregarded the exit poll results that predicted a resounding victory for the BJP, referring to them as a “Modi media poll” and said they were the creation of the prime minister’s fantasy.
“This is a Modi media poll, not an exit poll. “It’s his fantasy poll,” he informed the media. Gandhi alluded to the likely total of the INDIA alliance by cryptically using Sidhu Moose Wala’s song “295” in response to a question concerning the number of seats the alliance might win.
The exit polls, released on Saturday, unanimously predicted a third term for PM Modi, with NDA expected to perform at least as well as it did in 2019, potentially surpassing the 350-seat mark. Some polls even suggested that BJP’s pre-poll target of crossing 400 seats could be achieved.
The polls also highlighted BJP’s remarkable expansion in the eastern and southern states, particularly in West Bengal and Odisha, where it is projected to outperform the incumbent parties.
In Bengal, BJP is expected to win between 19 and 31 of the 42 seats, while in Odisha, projections range from 9 to 20 of the state’s 21 seats, with BJD potentially winning a maximum of 10 seats. According to the exit polls, the INDIA alliance is expected to win a maximum of 182 seats, with one poll even suggesting the possibility of the alliance falling below the 100-seat mark.
While exit polls are generally considered more accurate than opinion polls conducted before elections, their track record in India has been mixed, with both successes and failures. The counting of votes will be done on June 4.