After voting for 5 states and union territories of the country, now everyone's eyes are on the election results on May 4. However, many shocking estimates have been made in the exit poll survey that came after the completion of the voting process. The survey has claimed the formation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for the first time in West Bengal, while in Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician Vijay's TVK party has been said to form the government. There is talk of return of Congress led UDF in Kerala. At the same time, political parties have also given their respective responses regarding the exit poll.
In the exit poll survey released after the end of voting for the second phase in West Bengal, most of the agencies have claimed for the first time that BJP will form the government in the state. Many agencies like Chanakya, Matrice, P-Mark, Praja Poll and Poll Diary have claimed BJP to get majority in their surveys. Chanakya has claimed to get 150 to 160 seats, Matrice has claimed to get 146 to 161 seats. Similarly, Praja Poll has claimed that BJP will get up to 200 seats.
According to Praja Poll, BJP may get 178 to 208 seats. Poll Diary estimates that BJP may get 142 to 171 seats. But People's Pulse in its survey has claimed that Trinamool Congress will return to power for the fourth time. People's Pulse claims that TMC can get 178 to 189 seats in the elections. The special thing is that only People's Pulse has claimed the return of TMC.
Now, if we talk about Tamil Nadu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led 'Secular Progressive Alliance' (SPA) seems to be successful in saving its power. Chanakya, Matrice, P-Mark, Praja Poll, People's Diary and Poll Diary have claimed the return of DMK in Tamil Nadu. However, Axis has claimed in its shocking survey that actor-turned-politician Vijay's party TVK can be successful in forming the government. In the survey, it has been said that TVK will get 98 to 120 seats.
The 10-year rule of the Left alliance LDF in Kerala seems to be coming to an end. The survey has claimed the return of Congress led UDF. The survey says that there is nothing special for BJP in Kerala. It can be limited to just within tens.
Like Tamil Nadu, there is no possibility of any upheaval in Assam. The survey has claimed the return of the BJP led government. It is said that BJP will get 88 to 100 seats. Congress seems far away from power here. The NDA government may be successful in preserving its power in the Union Territory of Puducherry. According to Axis, in Puducherry the BJP alliance has predicted 16 to 20 seats while Praja Poll has predicted 19 to 25 seats.
However, there have been different reactions from political parties regarding the exit poll survey. The parties in whose support this survey expressed happiness, while the losing parties raised questions on it. Regarding the survey, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders rejected it and raised questions on its credibility. Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien said on X that even in the 2021 assembly elections, the exit polls were quite different from the actual results. While sharing the old figures, he said that at that time, in many exit polls, TMC was predicted to get 143-162 seats and BJP 115-147 seats, whereas in the final result, TMC won 215 seats while BJP was limited to only 77 seats.
Another party leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale said exit polls in West Bengal often indicate a close contest, but the mandate in the state has historically been decisive.
Regarding exit polls, Congress leader and Karnataka government minister Priyank Kharge said, "Exit polls have been proved wrong earlier also, Karnataka is an example of how BJP's victory was shown in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The BJP is so happy because the Election Commission, Election Commissioner are on their side but on May 4 you will see shocking results."
Similarly, Kerala Tourism Minister and LDF candidate from Beypore assembly constituency, P.A., while denying the talk of LDF's defeat, Mohammad Riyas said that exit polls do not matter to him. Referring to the last election, he said that in the year 2021 also, the exit poll survey had predicted his defeat, but he had won by a margin of more than 82 thousand votes.
Riyas claimed, “I am confident that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) will return to power for the third time.” His response came a day after the exit poll survey predicted that the Congress-led UDF would return to power in Kerala.
Apart from West Bengal and Kerala, the exit poll survey of the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu has said that it will make a comeback. DMK, excited about returning to power, said that the party is going to win more than 180 seats in Tamil Nadu. Whereas AIADMK rejected the exit poll itself and said that the party itself will come to power. There are a total of 234 seats in Tamil Nadu and the magic figure of majority is 118.
Expressing confidence of DMK returning to power, party spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai said on social media page
Whereas AIADMK also expressed full confidence that the people have already “decided” to change the government in the assembly elections held in the state on April 23. AIADMK joint secretary, R.A. Babu Murugavel said, “There should be no confusion, because people have already decided.”
Rejecting the exit polls, which had indicated DMK coming back to power, he said that the exit poll survey would be considered accurate only when the opinions of at least more than one lakh people were taken.
Chief coordinator of the executive committee of Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) K.A. Sengottaiyan said the public's response "will surprise the entire country." He is not worried about the survey in Tamil Nadu. He said, "The scale of the public reaction will astonish the entire nation. Such a tremendous level of 'whistle sound' has never been seen before in the history of the world and on May 4 the reality will be revealed to everyone."
