Exit polls on Saturday indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to secure a third consecutive term, with the BJP-led NDA expected to achieve a significant majority in the Lok Sabha elections.
India Today-Axis My India projects the BJP-led alliance winning between 361 and 401 seats, while the opposition INDIA bloc is expected to secure between 131 and 166 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Similarly, ABP-C Voter predicts the ruling alliance will obtain 353-383 seats, leaving the INDIA bloc with 152-182 seats.
Today's Chanakya offers an even higher estimate for the BJP and its allies compared to the 2019 elections, predicting 335 seats for the BJP and 400 for the NDA, with a potential variance of 15 seats. The opposition alliance is forecasted to gain 107 seats, with a possible fluctuation of 11 seats.
The BJP's campaign slogan, "400 paar" (cross 400), underscores its ambitious target for the alliance in these elections.
If these exit polls prove accurate, Modi will match the record of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, by leading his party to three consecutive electoral victories.
Times Now-ETG Research's exit poll results align with these predictions, giving 358 seats to the NDA and 152 seats to the INDIA bloc.
Several pollsters suggest the NDA may exceed its 2019 total of 353 seats, with the BJP having won 303 seats in that election. The Congress secured 53 seats, with its allies taking 38.
The opposition formed the 'INDIA' bloc to challenge the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha elections.
Pollsters generally agree that the NDA is likely to gain ground in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, dominate Karnataka, but might see reduced numbers in states like Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Haryana. Uttar Pradesh is expected to remain a stronghold for the BJP.
News 18 forecasts the BJP alone will win 306-315 seats, with the alliance securing 355-370 seats, and the opposition gaining 125-140 seats.
India Today-Axis My India predicts 322-340 seats for the BJP, 60-76 for the Congress, and 71-90 for Congress allies.
Republic TV-P Marq anticipates the ruling alliance will secure up to 359 seats, with the opposition bloc taking 154 seats. The Republic TV-Matrize poll estimates 353-368 seats for the NDA and 118-133 for the opposition.
Jan Ki Baat predicts 362-392 seats for the NDA and 141-161 for the opposition. India TV-CNX forecasts 371-401 seats for the NDA and 109-139 for the opposition. News Nation estimates 342-378 seats for the NDA and 153-169 for the opposition.
After the final phase of voting concluded on Saturday, Modi expressed confidence in the NDA's re-election, attributing it to high voter turnout and criticizing the opposition's "opportunistic INDI Alliance" for failing to connect with voters.
The Congress dismissed the exit polls, claiming they were manipulated by PM Modi as part of a psychological strategy, and insisted that the actual results would differ significantly.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh stated that the INDIA bloc would secure a minimum of 295 seats, ensuring a clear majority. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge echoed this sentiment, asserting that their internal surveys, based on feedback from leaders and the public, predicted over 295 seats for the opposition alliance.
In contrast, BJP president J P Nadda expressed confidence that voters had supported a vision of a capable, powerful, and self-reliant India, free from appeasement, nepotism, and corruption, predicting the BJP would win over 370 seats, with the NDA surpassing 400.
Political strategist Prashant Kishor, who anticipated a comfortable majority for the BJP-led NDA, advised against relying on the analysis of "fake journalists, loudmouth politicians, and self-proclaimed experts on social media" in future elections.
The vote count will take place on June 4.
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