Exit polls: Congress gets Rajasthan, loses Mizoram, TRS wins Telangana; BJP might retain Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh

Highlights

While exit polls are expected to make more truthful predictions than opinion polls, for the past several years these polls have gone awry too. However, when the pollsters are unanimous about a state, the projection may well turn out to be true

New Delhi: In the exit polls broadcast on different news television channels, the Congress is emerging as a clear winner, according to all pollsters, in Rajasthan. Similarly, Telangana is definitely going to the TRS, say all exit polls.

With 105 seats to the Congress and 85 to the BJP, the Times Now-CNX has predicted a regime change in Rajasthan. According to India Today-Axis My India, Congress is getting 119-141 seats while the BJP is getting 55-72. This survey’s ranges are, notably, too large for credibility. It also indicates close contests in 20-odd seats that could go either way.

If the TRS gets 66 seats followed by 37 of the Congress in Telangana, as predicted by Times Now-CNX, there was no formidable challenge thrown at chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

Times Now’s CNX has given Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s BJP a considerable lead in Madhya Pradesh. The incumbent gets 126 out of the 230 seats in the state Assembly according to this poll. The Republic TV-Jan ki Baat-CVoter poll shows the same upper limit for the BJP — with the Congress trailing with about 10 seats less. But India Today-Axis My India says it is neck-and-neck between the BJP and the Congress. News X-NETA shows the BJP shrinking to 106, falling short of the majority mark of 119.

The BJP is retaining Chhattisgarh according to all polls. It’s 46 to the BJP and 35 to the Congress according to Times Now-CNX. But if Janata Congress Chhattisgarh and BSP coalition get seven and two of the remaining seats go to others, it will be a hung Assembly. The India-Today-Axis My India is giving the BJP a 12-seat lead in this state, with 50 to the ruling party and 38 to the nearest challenger.

The Congress’s position in Mizoram is dicey according to Republic TV-Jan ki Baat-CVoter. It is getting 14-18 seats while the MNF may get 16-20. But the ZPM may play spoil the party for either side.