Exit Polls Predict Second Term for Modi

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Exit polls predict second term for Modi 64.23% turnout in ‘BJP will retain its strongholds in the north and west and make considerable gains in West Bengal’ last phase of voting Varghese K George the credibility of opinion Sporadic violence reported in Bengal New Delhi polls and exit polls has taken All exit polls released at the a beating in recent years. Special Correspondent conclusion of the seven Almost all polls in the Aus NEW DELHI phase 17th general election tralian election last week got The fate of political parties predicted a second term for the outcome wrong, and si and their candidates for the Prime Minister Narendra milar was the fate of polls 542 Lok Sabha seats was Modi. The counting of votes during the 2016 U.S. presi sealed on Sunday, with the will take place on May 23. dential election and Brexit. conclusion of the last phase Most polls indicated mi But what is common bet of polling in 59 constituen nor to considerable setback ween these polls that went cies across seven States and for Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Ja wrong was that all of them one Union Territory, which nata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pra underreported the support recorded a tentative turnout Mamata Banerjee arriving to desh where it won 71 of 80 for conservative and ultra of 64.23%, compared with cast her vote in Kolkata on

seats in 2014, but they were nationalist positions. Indian 64.63% in 2014. Sunday. * RAJEEV BHATT in agreement that the party exit polls on Sunday un An almost 9 percentage would firmly hold on to its iformly predicted a massive points jump, from the pre Ray, BJP candidate in Dia strongholds in the north and surge in favour of the Hindu vious figure of 66.87%, was mond Harbour, was at west and make considerable distance away from the half include the Samajwadi Party, Congress Data Analytics De nationalist BJP. registered in the eight con tacked at Budge Budge. gains in West Bengal. way mark of 272 seats in the the Bahujan Samaj Party partment, who compared The exit poll projections stituencies of Madhya Pra Fuad Halim, CPI(M) candi 543strong Lok Sabha, ac (BSP) and the Rashtriya Lok exit polls with actual out indicate that Mr. Modi’s cam desh. In Himachal Pradesh date from the same seat, al Trailing in south cording to these polls. Dal (RLD) whose coalition in comes posted on Twitter: paign to turn the election in too, it went up from 65.06% leged that his agents were In southern States barring The polls predicted bet Uttar Pradesh is resisting the “~80% of exit poll seat pred to a referendum on his per to 71.24%. However, there driven out of several booths. Karnataka, the BJP is project ween 242 to 365 for the BJP BJP, could get between 69 ictions for all parties in large sona rather than the was a significant decrease in Anupam Hazra, BJP candi ed to trail far behind oppo led National Democratic Al and 125 seats, according to state elections since 2014 are performance of his fiveyear West Bengal’s nine consti date from Jadavpur, and a nents. The Congress and its liance (NDA) and between 77 various polls. wrong.” Exit polls are gener term has been successful. tuencies, from 79.15% to party leader accompanying

allies are projected to make and 164 for the Congressled Exit polls have a long his ally considered more accu A BITTER BATTLE Ī PAGE 12 73.51%. Yet again, the State him, were attacked. significant gains compared United Progressive Alliance tory of going wrong in India. rate than opinion polls con SEE ALSO Ī PAGE 3 witnessed sporadic inci to the historic low they hit in (UPA). Parties that are unat According to Praveen Chak ducted before actual voting. COUNT ON DEMOCRACY dents of violence. CONTINUED ON Ī PAGE 12 2014, but will end up some tached to either side, which ravarty, chairperson of the Around the world also, Ī EDITORIAL The vehicle of Nilanjan VIOLENCE IN BENGAL Ī PAGE 12 Naidu meets Rahul, Sonia in Jobs were less of a concern during elections bid to forge non-BJP coalition Rafale controversy did not register with voters, finds postelection survey Lokniti Team cerns fell from a high of 38% about it. The Congress’s at Mayawati to fly down to Delhi for talks with Cong. leaders Economic issues, including in the prepoll to 25% in the tempt to bring “corruption” “unemployment”, were less postpoll survey. Only 12% of as a key plank in relation to Sandeep Phukan Following his meetings However, with exit polls salient in determining voter the respondents identified the Rafale deal also did not NEW DELHI with the Congress leader giving a clear verdict in fa choice over the course of the unemployment as the most quite register, the survey Stepping up his efforts to ship, there were reports that vour of the BJP and Mr. Mo election, Lokniti’s postpoll important issue, a drop of the United Progressive Al found. While only half of the form a nonBJP government Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) di’s leadership, Opposition survey found in comparison nine percentage points from liance. respondents had heard of at the Centre in case of a supremo Mayawati would leaders may change their to its prepoll results pu the prepoll survey. The postpoll survey also the controversy, less than hung verdict, Andhra Pra meet Ms. Gandhi and the plans and prefer to wait for blished jointly by The Hindu found that while awareness half among them felt that desh Chief Minister and Te Congress chief on Monday. the results on May 23. But if in the runup to the election. Significant drop of the Congress’s flagship mi there was wrongdoing by the lugu Desam Party (TDP) Though there was no offi Ms. Gandhi and Ms. Mayawa Those who mentioned The drop in these numbers nimum income promise, the government. In other words, leader N. Chandrababu Nai cial confirmation of the ti do meet on Monday, it “economic issues” related to are significant as the bulk of NYAY scheme, had increased the Rafale controversy did du on Sunday met Congress MayawatiSonia meeting, would be seen as a big boost unemployment, the imple those who reported eco over the course of the elec not quite have an impact as president Rahul Gandhi and sources confirmed to The to the Opposition. mentation of the Goods and nomic issues as key con tion, a significant section of the Congress expected. former Congress chief Sonia Hindu the BSP chief’s plan Services Tax (GST), price cerns were more likely to the poor — the targeted reci EDGE Ī 4 PAGE Gandhi. to fly down to Delhi. CONTINUED ON Ī PAGE 12 rise and poverty as key con support the Opposition and pients — had yet to learn FULL COVERAGE ON Ī PAGE 13 BJP should consider On polling day, Amarinder Summer travel plans affected as expelling Pragya: Nitish hits out at Navjot Sidhu airfares on popular routes skyrocket ‘Her remark on Godse condemnable’ Big jump in cost of tickets booked up to 30 days before departure Amarnath Tewary Mahatma Gandhi is the Punjab CM accuses Cabinet colleague of eyeing his post Patna Father of the Nation and pe JAGRITI CHANDRA Bihar Chief Minister and Ja ople will not like it if anyone VIKAS VASUDEVA Tensions had been sim mediate support from Health New Delhi/Mumbai nata Dal (United) president talks about Godse in this CHANDIGARH mering between the two in Minister Brahm Mohindra, As Amit Patel, a professional Nitish Kumar on Sunday manner… If someone holds Punjab Chief Minister Ama the runup to polling day in who termed Mr. Sidhu’s at a private company, sat condemned BJP Bhopal can such thinking, this is intoler rinder Singh on Sunday hit Punjab after Mr. Sidhu ac statements “untimely out down to book a flight for a didate Pragya Thakur’s con able for us,” Mr. Kumar said. out at his Cabinet colleague cused the Chief Minister of bursts against the party business trip to Bhopal from troversial remark referring He also reiterated, “We can Navjot Singh Sidhu, criticis being responsible for his leadership”. Delhi, he had to first post to Nathuram Godse, assas not compromise on three ing him for “damaging” the wife, Navjot Kaur, not getting pone his travel by four days sin of Mahatma Gandhi, as a things — crime, corruption Congress with his “illtimed” the Congress ticket for Chan ‘Passing the buck’ and ultimately buy a train deshbhakt (patriot). and communalism.” comments against the party digarh Lok Sabha seat. The opposition Shiromani ticket as the airfare for the Asked whether Ms. Tha Mr. Kumar declined to leadership in the State. Capt. Amarinder hinted at Akali Dal was quick to take a 90minute flight, at ₹20,000, kur should be expelled from comment on Prime Minister “If he (Sidhu) is a real Con political ambition as a possi dig at the Congress over the was five times the usual the BJP, Mr. Kumar said, “it Narendra Modi’s pilgrimage gressman, he should have ble motive behind Mr. Sid tussle between the two lead price. An aircraft preparing to land at Mumbai airport. * REUTERS must be considered.” Ho to Kedarnath. “The Prime chosen a better time to air hu’s accusation. “I personal ers. Former Minister and “I travel very frequently wever, he added, “it’s an in Minister does yoga…where his grievances instead of just ly do not have any Akali Dal leader Bikram on the DelhiBhopal route 16.8% more expensive com ticket cost of 61% and 78%, ternal matter of the BJP.” is the need to make any pol ahead of voting in Punjab. It differences with Sidhu, Singh Majithia said the war and I usually pay ₹4,000 for pared with last year. respectively. He was speaking to jour itical comment on this,” he is not his election but that of whom I have known since he of words between the Punjab oneway travel. I was travell The sharp rise in airfares Delhi and Mumbai togeth nalists after casting his vote asked. the entire Congress. Sidhu is was a child. Perhaps he is Chief Minister and Mr. Sidhu ing in the second week of comes at a time when there er account for 42.6% of out at a government school near (With inputs from PTI) harming the party with such ambitious and wants to be was an attempt at passing May for an important work is a huge demand for travel bound travel by Indian citi the Raj Bhavan here. irresponsible actions,” the Chief Minister,” he said. the buck ahead of the im related to the elections, but during the summer vacation zens, according to “This is condemnable... MODI THANKS EC Ī PAGE 12 CM said in Patiala. The Chief Minister got im pending defeat in the polls. decided to first wait for season as well as for school government data. Spiralling cheaper fares and then ulti and college admissions, but airfares have resulted in fo mately booked an Executive there is a deficit in capacity reign carriers like Qatar Air Class ticket on Shatabdi, due to the grounding of Jet ways proposing a temporary LoP accuses Delhi CM, Dy. CM of bid to falsely implicate him which is an eighthour jour Airways’ 123 planes. While increase in seats between ney and cost me ₹2,500,” Mr. the government has asked the two countries. Patel said. other airlines to speed up in “Without our contingency Files police complaint a day after Arvind Kejriwal alleged that BJP was out to get him assassinated According to data by tra duction of new planes, it will plan, Indian travellers will be vel portal Yatra.com for take several months to forced to either choose ex Staff Reporter way Prime Minister Indira hatch a conspiracy to elimi national capital. bookings made for travel on bridge the gap. pensive lastminute tickets or New Delhi Gandhi was killed. nate the CM. “All security staff de May 18, ticket prices were Passengers planning over complicated and burden The Leader of the Opposi In the complaint, Mr. Mr. Gupta had claimed in ployed around Kejriwal higher by 10% to 60% as seas travel will also have to some reroutings,” said an tion in Delhi Assembly, Vi Gupta said that Mr. Kejriwal his tweet that the Chief Mi should be given psychologi compared to the same pe dig deeper into their pock airline spokesperson. jender Gupta, filed a com and Mr. Sisodia were spread nister himself told the liai cal counselling and Delhi riod last year. For example, a ets. Airfares for MumbaiDu plaint on Sunday at the ing information through so son officer to remove the se police should immediately DelhiBengaluru flight bai were nearly three times Plan in advance Parliament Street police sta cial media to implicate him curity cover of his vehicle in review his security cover,” booked 30 days before travel higher at ₹22,913 for a book Yatra.com’s COO Sharat tion against Delhi Chief Mi in a criminal conspiracy order to orchestrate the Mr. Kapoor said. cost ₹7,021, which is 42.3% ing made 30 days before tra Dhall’s advice to travellers is nister Arvind Kejriwal and with the intention to put ‘Slapgate’ episode. Eish Singhal, Additional higher than the airfare of vel when compared with to “plan in advance and not Deputy Chief Minister Man him behind bars. DCP (New Delhi), admitted ₹4,931 available last year for ₹7,167 last year. to book at the last moment to ish Sisodia for “hatching a Security review sought receiving a complaint the same booking period. DelhiLondon, too, was avoid the unprecedented larger conspiracy against ‘Scripted attack’ In a letter to Delhi Police against Mr. Kejriwal filed by A DelhiGuwahati flight, nearly three times costlier hikes in airfares.” But there is him to falsely implicate him Mr. Gupta said that on May Commissioner Amulya Pat Mr. Gupta. The police are also booked 30 days before than last year (₹75,731 in no escaping high airfares this in criminal cases”. 18, Mr. Sisodia — replying to Vijender Gupta naik, BJP spokesperson Pra going through the nature of travel, was 57% dearer at stead of ₹25,488). However, summer as it’s advance air Mr. Gupta’s claim comes a his tweet claiming that Mr. veen Shankar Kapoor said the complaint but prima fa ₹7,536, as compared with some sectors, where passen fares that have been bumped day after Mr. Kejriwal had al Kejriwal had scripted an at tweet proved that the CM’s Mr. Kejriwal’s statement was cie it doesn’t qualify under ₹4,801 last year. Similarly, for gers have a plethora of low up the most. leged that the BJP would get tack on himself during a security report reaches the “damaging” for the morale any section of the IPC, he bookings made seven days cost airlines to choose from, (Additional inputs from him assassinated by his own roadshow during the Lok BJP every day and the party of his security staff as well as said. before travel, a DelhiBenga such as DelhiBangkok and Aditya Anand; Lalatendu personal security officer, the Sabha campaign — said the was using the information to the entire police force in the (With inputs from PTI) luru flight at ₹9,291 was DelhiSingapore, saw a dip of Mishra) CM M ND-NDE https://t.me/SSC4ExamsYK https://t.me/Banking4Exams https://t.me/UPSC4Exams