Exit polls predict Cong win in Rajasthan but loss in Mizoram; BJP uncertain in MP, Chhattisgarh; TRS to retain Telangana
The exit polls for the five Assembly elections project an advantage to the Congress, which is seen wresting Rajasthan from the BJP and putting saffron party on the tenterhooks in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The TRS is projected to retain Telangana by majority whereas the Congress may end up losing Mizoram, its lone seat of power in North-East.
Though a buzz was created during the last week that the BJP was catching up the Congress in Rajasthan, exit polls show that the Congress may emerge a clear winner in the State, riding on the voters’ angst against the Vasundhara Raje Government. In fact, India Today-Axis exit poll has projected the Congrrss wresting the State with near two-third majority by winning as many as 141 out of 199 seats. The BJP, it added, may win 55-72 seats. Times Now-CNX forecast 105 seats for the Congress and 85 for the BJP.
However, Republic TV-Jan Ki Baat forecast a tighter race between the two parties. It gave the Congress and the BJP 81-101 and 83-103 seats respectively.
When it comes to Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the exit polls are as divided as the main contestants — the BJP and the Congress — though a poll conducted by the NDTV showed the Congress ahead in both the States by a slight margin... In MP, while Republic TV-Jan Ki Baat gave 108-128 seats to the BJP and 95-115 to the Congress in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, India Today-Axis said the saffron party could win 102-120 seats as against 104-122 for the Congress.
However, the Times Now-CNX exit poll predicted a majority for the BJP in MP with 126 seats and gave the Congress 89 seats. ABP News exit poll said the Congress is likely to get a majority by bagging 126 seats. The BJP, it added, would get 94 seats.
Exit polls have given a slight edge to the Congress in Chhattisgarh. The half-way mark in the 90-seat Assembly is 46 seats. In 2013, the BJP had won 49 seats, the Congress 39 while the BSP bagged 1 seat.
Here’s a look at all exit poll results for Chhattisgarh. Republic-C Voter predicted 35-43 seats for the BJP and 40-50 for the Congress while the News Nation forecast a close race with 38-42 seats for the BJP and 40-44 for the Congress.
Times Now-CNX, however, gave a simple majority to the BJP in Chhattisgarh, saying it may win 46 seats while the Opposition Congress may bag 35 seats. ABP News said the BJP may get up to 52 seats against 35 of the Congress.
However, India Today-Axis predicted the Congress is set to end Chief Minister Raman Singh’s 15-year old reign by winning anywhere between 55-65 seats. The BJP, it said, may be reduced to 21-31 seats.
All the exit polls said the alliance of former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi’s Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (Jogi) and the BSP may win three to eight seats, which may help him to emerge as a kingmaker in the event of a hung House.
Exit polls were almost unanimous in predicting that TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s gamble of advancing the Assembly polls will pay off and he will retain power.
Republic TV and Times Now forecast that his party will win 50-65 and 66 seats in the 119-member Assembly. TV9 Telugu and India Today forecast a tally between 75-85 and 75-91 for the TRS respectively.
Some exit polls saw a tighter battle between the TRS and the Congress-TDP combine. The counting of votes for five States, including Mizoram besides the four States, will be take place on December 11.
In Mizoram, the India Today-Axis My India exit poll the ruling Indian National Congress is trailing behind the Mizo National Front (MNF). While the MNF is likely to secure 16-22 seats in the 40-member Mizoram Assembly, the Congress, that ruled the State for the previous two terms, may secure 8-12 seats.
The Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) is seen to be emerging as a disruptive force denting the MNF and Congress in the State.
