Bhubaneswar: The BJP is likely to make huge strides towards bettering its performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Odisha with a number of exit poll surveys predicting big win for the saffron party in the State.
According to Republic-C Voter analysis, the exit poll shows that BJP may win 10 seats in Odisha while 11 seats are likely to go to the ruling-BJD. The saffron party had won just a single seat of Sundergarh Lok Sabha constituency during the last polls. The survey predicted that Congress will repeat its gloomy performance similar to last 2014 elections.
The exit polls by Republic -Jan Ki Baaat have predicted even better results for BJP in Odisha. As per its projections, the national party will get large chunks of seats and emerge as winner in 12 Lok Sabha constituencies while the BJD might end up with 8 seats. The survey projected that the Congress might win one seat in the State.
Times Now-VMR has also predicted a similar result of Lok Sabha polls in Odisha.
Meanwhile, News 18 exit poll has projected that BJP might win 6 to 8 seats while the BJD could grab 12 to 14 seats. A survey by India TV also predicted similar result with BJP winning 6 and BJD winning 15 seats in Odisha.
However, India Today exit poll predicted a completely different picture. As per its projections, the saffron party will secure landslide victory in Odisha by wining 15 to 19 Lok Sabha seats while the BJD will win only 2 to 6 seats.
OTV too had prepared its own exit poll survey through its representatives. According to its predictions, both the BJD and BJP will secure 10 Lok Sabha seats each while the Congress will win a single seat.
With the release of exit polls, political reactions started to pour in.
BJP national Vice president Baijayant Jay Panda said the exit polls survey clearly indicates that Narendra Modi will once again become the prime minister of the country and the BJP-led NDA will form the government at the Centre.
“The trend was clearly visible right from the very beginning when we kicked off the campaign trail in Odisha and even outside Odisha too. Sometimes exit polls tend to be wrong and the results point towards a different trend but when all the exit polls indicate same thing, it will be a shocker if the real results will be different,” said Panda.
Exuding confidence on his win in Kendrapara LS constituency, the former parliamentarian further added, “Last time in 2014, people of Odisha missed the chance to support Modiji, but after witnessing strong reformative measures especially in terms of security and finance, I think people of Odisha had made up their minds to vote for Modi.”
However, the BJD refused to acknowledge the exit poll projections.
“During past exit polls, forecast regarding the BJD had proved to be wrong. In 2009, when exit polls pointed that we would win 6 seats, we got 14. Similarly in 2014, the surveys projected 14 seats for us but we won 20. Exit poll results will be proved wrong and Naveen Patnaik-led BJD will form government in Odisha once again,” said BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra.
Congress Kalahandi LS candidate Bhakta Das said it is unnecessary to argue on validity of exit polls. “Congress will definitely register victory in all the Assembly seats and Lok Sabha seat in Kalahandi,” said Das.