The Congress party will retain power in Chhattisgarh and form its first government in Telangana, said most of the exit polls on Thursday as voting for the assembly elections in five states came to a close.
In Rajasthan, most of the pollsters predict that the Bharatiya Janata Party will come back to power, ousting the Ashok Gehlot government. In Madhya Pradesh, however, they forecast a neck and neck contest between the saffron party and the opposition Congress.
In Mizoram, exit polls results indicate a hung assembly. The state had witnessed a multi-cornered contest and most of the pollsters have given the new party, Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), a considerable chunk of seats.
Touted to be the semifinal of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled in April-May 2024, assembly polls in these five states witnessed a high decibel campaign with national leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing multiple rallies and roadshows.
While Mizoram went to polls on November 7, elections in Chhattisgarh were held in two phases—on November 7 and November 17. Voting in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana was held on November 17, November 25 and November 30, respectively. The votes will be counted on December 3.
Reacting to th exit polls results, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said, "..is there similarity between exit polls (of different agencies and channels)? After two days (on December 3) everyone will show the same poll outcome. Let the exit polls play out but we will form the government with full majority.
senior BJP leader and former CM Raman Singh said his party will get 52-55 seats and form government with a clear majority.
"Exit polls are showing that BJP is reaching 48 seats from 15 (seats won by party in 2018), which is a result of the party's efforts in electioneering. But I believe BJP will get 52 to 55 seats. It will be clear after counting of votes on December 3," Singh said.
In Telangana, BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao dismissed the exit polls as “nonsense” and said the party led by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar would come back to power with over 70 seats.
"In the name of exit polls, those who create nuisance and nonsense, there will be egg on your face and your reputation is at stake," he said.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, too, dismissed the exit polls predictions, saying the Congress would again form the government in the state.
"Congress government will be formed (in Rajasthan). In all five states, I feel that BJP is not going to form the government. Exit polls may say something, surveys might suggest something, but based on the feedback of people in the cities and villages, I feel that our government should come," Gehlot told reporters in Delhi.