inc-strategizes-for-vote-counting-amid-exit-polls

A day after exit polls suggested another victory for the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress held a crucial meeting on Sunday with the party’s Lok Sabha candidates.

 

The meeting was chaired by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, and party general secretary KC Venugopal. Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leaders and Pradesh Congress Committee presidents also participated via video conferencing.

 

The primary focus of the meeting was to strategize for the counting day on June 4. The Congress party has dismissed the exit poll predictions, which indicate a significant win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. According to the exit polls, the NDA is expected to secure a strong majority, but Congress leaders believe the actual results will be different.

 

Jairam Ramesh, a Congress Rajya Sabha MP, expressed scepticism about the exit polls, suggesting they were manipulated. "The outgoing PM, who will have to leave for sure on June 4, has conspired and managed the exit polls.

 

There will be a huge difference between the exit polls and the results on June 4. The INDIA alliance had a meeting yesterday, and we discussed the numbers in detail. It’s impossible that the INDIA alliance will get anything below 295," Ramesh said.

 

The exit polls by various agencies have predicted varying numbers but consistently point towards a decisive victory for the BJP-led NDA. For instance, the India News-NewsX-D-Dynamics exit poll forecasts that the BJP alone will win 315 seats out of 543, with the NDA securing a total of 371 seats. In contrast, the Congress is expected to win 60 seats, with the INDIA alliance getting a total of 125 seats.

 

Similarly, the India Today-Axis My India exit poll predicts that the NDA will win between 361 and 401 seats, while the INDIA bloc is expected to secure 131 to 166 seats. Other parties are projected to win 8 to 20 seats.

 

The Republic PMarq exit poll estimates 359 seats for the NDA, 154 for the INDIA bloc, and 30 for other parties. Other exit polls, like the Republic Matrize and NewsX Dynamics, also forecast a clear majority for the NDA.

 

If these exit poll predictions hold true on June 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make history by becoming the only PM after Jawaharlal Nehru to win three consecutive terms in Lok Sabha elections. The exit polls highlight the effectiveness of Modi’s campaign efforts, which included numerous rallies and roadshows across the country.

 

As the final phase of voting takes place in 57 parliamentary constituencies across eight states and Union Territories, including Bihar, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, all eyes are on the counting day.

 

The results will determine whether the BJP can secure a third consecutive term or if the Congress and its allies can make a significant comeback.

 

With a total of 10.06 crore electors eligible to vote in this phase, the stakes are high. The BJP had previously won 25 of these seats in 2019, while Congress secured eight, and the Trinamool Congress won nine. Other parties like the Biju Janata Dal and the Janata Dal (United) also have significant stakes in this election.

 

The counting of votes on June 4 will reveal the final outcome and determine the future political landscape of India.