New Delhi: The voters in Maharashtra and Jharkhand sealed the fate of BJP-led NDA and the I.N.D.I.A. bloc on Wednesday with most exit polls predictions giving the NDA an advantage in both states.
However, a few gave an edge to the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition in the western state, while some predicted a hung Assembly. Similarly in Jharkhand, while most exit polls have given the NDA an edge, some have also predicted the JMM-led incumbent government retaining power.
In Maharashtra, where the incumbent Mahayuti comprising Shiv Sena (Shinde), BJP and NCP (Ajit) had been heavily banking on the development plank and the government’s schemes, including the much hyped ‘Ladli Bahen’, most exit polls have predicted the Mahayuti retaining power. After its dismal performance in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP concentrated its focus mainly on the development plank in the state while the MVA highlighted corruption and misgovernance under Mahayuti.
The Poll of Polls has given a clear cut majority to the incumbent government predicting 154 seats for Mahayuti while the Opposition MVA is predicted to win 125 seats.
Exit poll agency P-MARK predicted the Mahayuti bagging 137-157 seats and MVA 126-146 seats thus predicting a tight contest between the two. Another pollster Matrize Exit predicted 150-170 seats for Mahayuti and MVA 110-130 seats. People’s Pulse has predicted clean sweep for Mahayuti with 175-195 seats and MVA only 85-112 and 7-12 others. Chanakya Strategies predicted 152-160 seats for Mahayuti and 130138 to MVA while Electoral Edge predicted a win for MVA with 150 seats and 121 for Mahayuti.
The BJP had won 105 seats in 2019 Assembly polls while the Congress had won 44 seats. The united Shiv Sena and NCP had won 56 and 54 seats respectively.
In Jharkhand, where the BJP-led NDA aggressively campaigned against the demographic changes and illegal migrants under the ruling JMM-led alliance, most exit polls predicted that the NDA may oust the incumbent I.N.D.I.A. bloc.
However, Electoral Edge and P-MARK have predicted the JMM-led alliance retaining power. While, Electoral Edge has given I.N.D.I.A. 42, it gave NDA 32 seats and seven to others. P-MARK has given 37-47 seats to the JMM-led alliance while the BJP-led alliance is predicted to win 31-40 seats.
Contrary to the two, exit poll agency Matrize Exit has given 42-47 seats to NDA and 25-30 seats to the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. People’s Pulse also gave 44-53 seats to NDA and 25-37 seats to I.N.D.I.A. and 5-9 to others. Chanakya Strategies has given NDA 45-50 seats, I.N.D.I.A. 35-38 seats and others 3-5 seats.
The Poll of Polls has predicted a tough contest between the two alliances but with the NDA having an edge at 41 and I.N.D.I.A. at just 35. In 2019, the JMM had won 30, the BJP 25 and the Congress had bagged 16 seats.
