How Opposition Leaders Lambasted Exit Poll Predictions?

May 20, 2019, 15:00 IST

Hyderabad: As polling for the last phase of the 17th Lok Sabha election concluded on Sunday, exit polls predictions unanimously projected that BJP-led NDA will gain a resounding majority in the elections.

The polls predicted between 242 to 365 for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and between 77 and 164 for the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA). The results will be out on May 23.

However, after the exit polls prediction, Opposition parties rubbished the predictions. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted saying exit poll predictions are wrong and cited the example of Australia elections last week.

I believe the exit polls are all wrong. In Australia last weekend, 56 different exit polls proved wrong. In India many people don’t tell pollsters the truth fearing they might be from the Government. Will wait till 23rd for the real results.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 19, 2019

Tharoor was referring to the unexpected win of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his conservative Liberal National coalition party. Exit polls had however predicted a Labour Party win for the first time in six years. Labour leader Bill Shorten resigned in the wake of the party's surprise defeat.

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah did not side away completely the exit polls results but chose to wait till the results day.

Every single exit poll can’t be wrong! Time to switch off the TV, log out of social media & wait to see if the world is still spinning on its axis on the 23rd.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) May 19, 2019

Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu has dismissed the poll predictions saying in the past it has been proved wrong.

Time and again exit polls have failed to catch the People's pulse. Exit polls have proved to be incorrect and far from ground reality in many instances. While undoubtedly TDP govt will be formed in AP, we are confident that non-BJP parties will form a non-BJP govt at the center.

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) May 19, 2019

Meanwhile, in his state, exit polls predictions have revealed that YSR Congress Party is likely to emerge victorious by comfortably winning over 130 seats in 175-member Assembly. The survey by VDP Associates revealed that YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is the preferred choice for the post of chief minister.

Also Read: Majority Exit Polls Predict A Clear Edge To YSR Congress In Lok Sabha Seats

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the electronic voting machines (EVMs) would be "manipulated" and asked all Opposition parties to unite.

I don’t trust Exit Poll gossip. The game plan is to manipulate or replace thousands of EVMs through this gossip. I appeal to all Opposition parties to be united, strong and bold. We will fight this battle together

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 19, 2019

Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) leader Sharad Yadav called the predictions a fraud and said that the ground reality was completely different.

Exit polls of Lok Sabha election are fraud not d truth. Ground reality was totally different & against d NDA. Which people have done this survey & consists of which castes ? Survey is against democracy. I would pray let d democracy survives & as such defeat of NDA is necessary.

— SHARAD YADAV (@SharadYadavMP) May 20, 2019

Also Read: Lok Sabha Elections Exit Polls 2019: Who’s Predicting What?

Also Read: Most Exit Polls Predict Another Term For Modi, NDA Set To Garner Over A Clear Majority