'Exit polls being used to create Modi wave, lure regional parties'

Dismissing the results of the exit polls that predicted a majority of seats in the Lok Sabha elections for the BJP-led NDA, Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has alleged the exercise was aimed at creating an impression there was still a “Modi wave” in the country.

In a series of tweets on Monday, Kumaraswamy alleged the aim of the exit polls was to show an “artificially engineered” Modi wave that “is being used by the BJP to lure regional parties well in advance to fill any shortfall after the results on May 23”.

While a number of opposition leaders also dismissed the exit poll findings, Kumaraswamy appears to have gone further, effectively describing the exercise as a means to facilitate horse-trading. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Sunday described the exit polls as “gossip” that had the game plan to “manipulate or replace thousands of EVMs”.

In his first two tweets, Kumaraswamy reiterated the concern of opposition parties about the misuse of vulnerable EVMs for electoral gains by the BJP. Kumaraswamy tweeted, “World wide, even developed countries have opted for traditional polls through paper ballets. The exit poll surveys on May 19 only reiterated the serious concern of the opposition parties on misuse of vulnerable EVMs for electoral gains by the ruling party.”

In a subsequent tweet, Kumaraswamy raised the allegation that the exit polls were creating the impression of a Modi wave in the country. Kumaraswamy tweeted, “Exit polls are being used to create an impression that there is still a Modi wave in the country. This artificially engineered or manufactured Modi wave is being used by the BJP to lure regional parties well in advance to fill any shortfall after the results on May 23.”

Kumaraswamy also described the entire exit poll exercise as an “effort to create false impression of a wave in favour of one particular leader and the party. As they say, it is just an exit poll, not exact poll.”

Kumaraswamy's outburst comes in the wake of several exit polls predicting an effective sweep by the BJP against his alliance with the Congress in Karnataka. Both India Today-My Axis India and Today's Chanakya showed the BJP winning at least 21 of the 28 seats in Karnataka.

Last week, BJP leader and former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa made headlines after he reportedly said the JD(S)-Congress government of Kumaraswamy would fall within 24 hours of the BJP winning the Lok Sabha polls. Yeddyurappa had then claimed nearly 20 Congress MLAs were ready to switch to the BJP.