Several exit polls give edge to BJP-led alliances in Maharashtra, Jharkhand

Exit polls were out soon after the close of polling in Maharashtra and the second phase of voting in Jharkhand, predicting victory of the BJP-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra and the NDA in Jharkhand

Several exit polls on Wednesday gave a clear edge to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliances in the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, while some projected that the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition may emerge on top in Maharashtra.

In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, 145 is the majority mark, while it is 41 in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly. The BJP-Shiv-Sena-Nationalist Congress Party alliance is in power in Maharashtra, while the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-Congress is ruling in Jharkhand.

Check highlights from: Maharashtra Assembly elections and Phase 2 of Jharkhand assembly elections

In Maharashtra, the P-MARQ exit polls predicted 137-157 seats, with 42% vote share, for the ruling Mahayuti alliance and 126-146 seats, with 41% vote share, for the MVA. It gave two to eight seats to others.

The Matrize exit poll predicted 150-170 seats, with 48% vote share, for the Mahayuti, and 110-130 seats, with 42% vote share, to the MVA. It gave eight to 10 seats, with 10% vote share, to others.

According to Electoral Edge, the MVA is likely to win 150 seats and the Mahayuti 118 seats, while others could bag 20 seats. Poll Diary predicted 122-186 seats for the Mahayuti, 69-121 for the MVA, and 10-27 seats for others, while Chanakya Strategies said the Mahayuti could come back to power with 152-160 seats, and the MVA would get 130-138 seats.

The exit polls by Lokpoll gave the MVA 151-162 seats, with 43-46% vote share, the Mahayuti 115-128 seats, with 37%-40% vote share, and between five and 14 seats to others.

Another pollster, Lokshahi Rudra, predicted a close contest, giving 125-140 seats to the MVA and 128-142 seats to the Mahayuti, while the others could get 18-23 seats.

The exit poll by People’s Pulse predicted that the Mahayuti could bag 175-195 seats and the MVA only 85-112 seats, while others could win seven to 12 seats; Times Now-JVC gave 150-167 seats to the Mahayuti and 107-125 to the MVA; and Dainik Bhaskar 125-140 seats to the BJP and its allies and 135-150 seats to the MVA.

In Jharkhand, Axis My India projected a landslide victory for Chief Minister Hemant Soren. It has given 53 seats to the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) and 25 to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

Matrize gave 42-47 seats to the NDA and 25-30 seats to the INDIA bloc and 0-4 seats to others. Chanakya Strategies has given 45-50 seats to the NDA and 35-38 seats to INDIA; Dainik Bhaskar 37-40 to the NDA and 36-39 to INDIA; Electoral Edge 32 to the NDA and 42 to INDIA; and Matrize 42-47 to the NDA and 25-30 to INDIA.

Pollsters P-MARQ has predicted that the NDA is likely to get 31-40 seats, while 37-47 seats will go to INDIA, whereas Peoples Pulse has projected an NDA victory with 44-53 seats, with the INDIA bloc at 25-37 seats. Times Now-JVC has given 40-44 seats to the NDA and 30-40 TO INDIA.

As per Delhi University’s Centre for Global Studies predications, Mahayuti will emerge victorious in Maharashtra and the NDA in Jharkhand. Some exit polls have also predicted that the BJP will bag five to seven seats in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly bypolls.

Sounding a cautionary note, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had earlier said that exit polls were creating a huge distortion by raising expectations that did not match with the actual results. There was a need for self-introspection by the pollsters and the press, particularly electronic media, to take corrective measures, he said.

The counting of votes will take place on November 23 for the single-phase Maharashtra election held on Wednesday and the two-phased voting in Jharkhand on November 13 and 20.

(With PTI Inputs)

Published - November 20, 2024 08:11 pm IST