As the nation awaits assembly election results for four states and a Union territory—West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry—that went to polls, exit polls have poured in, offering early projections of the electoral outcome.
West Bengal
P-Marq points to a strong showing by the BJP in West Bengal, with the party comfortably getting the halfway mark of 147 in the 294-member assembly, with over 150 to 175 seats, while the TMC is giving a tough fight, possibly securing around 118-138 seats.
Matrize too suggested the possibility of the BJP coming to power, but indicated the possibility of a tight fight. According to it, the BJP may get 146 to 161 seats, while the ruling party may get 125-140, a few seats short of the halfway mark.
Poll Diary also projects a clear victory for the BJP, estimating 142–171 seats, while the TMC is likely to secure 99–127 seats.
However, People's Pulse gave a clear majority to the ruling TMC, with the party expected to comfortably cross the halfway mark with 177-187 seats, while the BJP may get 95 to 110 seats.
Janmat Polls, meanwhile, projected a thumping victory for the TMC, estimating 195–205 seats, while the BJP is expected to secure 80–90 seats.
JVC, however, indicated a tight contest, with the BJP projected to win 138–159 seats and the TMC also crossing the majority mark with 131–152 seats.
Tamil Nadu
According to People’s Pulse, the ruling DMK is projected to win 125–145 seats in Tamil Nadu, while the AIADMK may secure 65–80 seats. The new entrant, Vijay's TVK, is projected to secure around 18–24 seats in the 234-member assembly, where the halfway mark is 118.
As per Matrize, the ruling party is likely to bag 122–132 seats, while the AIADMK could win 87–100 seats, and TMK is projected to secure 10–12 seats.
JVC, however, projected a clear mandate for the AIADMK combine, estimating 128–147 seats, while suggesting the DMK would trail with 75–95 seats.
In a surprising forecast, Axis My India indicated the possibility of Vijay’s TVK emerging on top with 98–120 seats, with the DMK close behind at 92–110 seats. The AIADMK-led alliance, it said, could be relegated to a distant third with 22–32 seats.
Kerala
According to Axis My India, the UDF is projected to emerge ahead with 78–90 seats, while the ruling LDF may secure 49–62 seats. The BJP is expected to get 0–3 seats.
The halfway mark in the 140-member house is 71.
As per Matrize, the UDF is likely to lead with 70–55 seats, while the LDF may win 60–65 seats, with the BJP projected at 3–5 seats.
According to P-Marq, the UDF is projected to be in front with 71-79 seats, while the ruling LDF may secure 62–69 seats. The BJP is expected to win 0–3 seats.
According to People’s Pulse, the UDF is likely to secure 75–85 seats, while the LDF may win 55–65 seats.
JVC also projected a UDF lead, estimating 72–84 seats for the alliance, with the LDF expected to get 52–61 seats.
All pollsters appeared unanimous in projecting a clear victory for the UDF in the Kerala elections.
Assam
Axis My India predicts the BJP is likely to get an overwhelming majority in Assam, securing 88-100 seats with the Congress coming in at a far second with 24-36 seats.
People's Pulse predicted that the NDA would get 68-72 seats while the Congress plus would secure in the range of 22-26 seats.
Matrize said the NDA is likely to get between 85-95 seats and the Congress and its allies 25-32. The Assam assembly has 126 seats with the magic mark being 64.
Puducherry
In the Union territory, Axis My India predicted 16-20 seats for the NDA and 6-8 for the DMK-Congress. It said the TVK is likely to get 2-4 seats in the assembly. There are 30 elected seats in Puducherry.
Kerala, Assam and Puducherry went to the polls on April 9, and Tamil Nadu voted in a single phase on April 23. The polls were held in West Bengal in two phases on April 23 and April 29.
Tamil Nadu logged a historic 85.1 per cent voter turnout while Puducherry topped the chart with 91.23 per cent. Assam recorded 85.9 per cent, and Kerala reported a turnout of 78.27 per cent. The first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections recorded a voter turnout of 93.19 per cent, the highest ever in the state, while the second phase on Wednesday too registered record turnout.