Congress Rejoices, BJP Dismisses Exit Polls Projections

Congress embraces while BJP brushes off the exit polls for 2018 Assembly elections.

Congress’ Ashok Gehlot (Left) and Sachin Pilot (Centre) rejoiced at the exit poll projections while Union Minister Prakash Javadekar (Right) said that he would rather wait for “exact poll” results on 11 December.

(Photo: ANI Screengrab)

Video Editor: Sandeep Suman

Hours after the polling closed on 7 December in the states of Telangana and Rajasthan, the exit polls for all Assembly elections of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana started rolling in. While most of them predicted a comfortable victory for the Congress in Rajasthan and Telangana Rashtra Samiti in Telangana, a neck and neck fight between BJP and Congress is being predicted in Madhya Pradesh.

Similar projections were made by various surveys in Chhattisgarh where some predict a Congress victory while others say BJP will be able to defend its fort. In Mizoram, most exit polls predicted that Congress may find it difficult to hold on to power.

Congress leaders Sandeep Dikshit and Ashok Gehlot said that the exit polls are at par with their expectations and similar results will be seen on 11 December.

“We agree with the exit polls because they match the assessment of our party. So, it won’t be a surprise if we win 150 seats (in Rajasthan) and they (BJP) are reduced to 50-60 seats.”

Ashok Gehlot, Congress Leader

“Most exit polls have given a clear verdict on Rajasthan. Apart from a few pro-BJP channels, most of them have predicted a Congress win in MP. In Chhattisgarh too, the scenario is similar. I am confident that Congress will win all three states.”

Sandeep Dikshit, Congress Leader

On the contrary, the BJP leaders brushed the projections aside and deflected the questions on exit polls.

“I won’t react to exit polls because the exact poll results will be out on 11 December. I don’t react to exit polls but prefer to wait for exact polls because we have already seen many exit polls being proven wrong.”

Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister

“You will get to know on 11 December who won or lost but the exit polls that are predicting BJP’s loss will certainly lose according to me.”

Meenakshi Lekhi, BJP leader