Exit polls divided between Congress & AAP in Punjab
Complete rout predicted for SADBJP; but BJP likely to emerge as single largest party in 4 other states
CHANDIGARH/NEWDELHI: Exit polls were unanimous in predicting that the ruling alliance of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will face a crushing defeat in Punjab. But they were divided on whether the Congress will make a comeback or the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will make a winning debut in the state polls.
In the four other states, including Uttar Pradesh, whose results are also to be out on March 11, the BJP will emerge as the single largest party, exit polls predicted on Thursday. In UP, four out of six exit polls said, the BJP will be within striking distance of the halfway mark of 202 in the 403-member assembly.
In Punjab, two exit polls predicted a photo finish while two others were split between the Congress and AAP in the 117member assembly, in which the simple majority mark is 59. Meanwhile, deputy chief minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal had declared on Wednesday that, no matter what the calculations predicted, the SAD-BJP would win at least 72 seats. However, most surveys put the incumbent alliance’s tally in single digits.
Meanwhile, security arrangements were being made at strongrooms and counting centres in Punjab to prevent any untoward situation. With many claims of security breaches in the past few days, the officials are on their toes.
In Uttarakhand, the BJP looked set to dislodge the Congress as three out of four exit polls gave a clear majority to the saffron party. One poll forecast a close fight in the 70-member legislature. Two exit polls suggested that the BJP could retain power in Goa. The AAP, which ran a high-voltage campaign in its debut outing in the state, was seen as failing to have had an impact in the 40-member assembly. The Congress appeared to be on its way to losing power in Manipur as well, with India TV-C Voter — the only available exit poll so far for the state — saying the BJP will emerge as the single largest party in the 60-member assembly.
Exit polls have frequently gone wrong in the past, including in Bihar and Delhi in 2015. VOTING IN TWO SEGMENTS Meanwhile, over 60% polling was recorded in Alapur constituency in Ambedkarnagar district of UP till 5 PM, the state election office said. Voting for the reserved constituency (SC) was postponed after Samajwadi Party candidate Chandrashekhar Kanaujia died of a heart attack while campaigning on February 12. Karnprayag assembly constituency in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand too went to polls on Thursday and recorded 57% voting till 5pm, an official said. Polling here was postponed following the death of the BSP candidate on February 12.
CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief electoral officer VK Singh, on Thursday said all arrangements for counting of votes on March 11 have been made. “More than 14,000 officials will be involved in the counting process at 54 counting centres in 27 locations.” The counting of votes would begin at 8am .
Punjab recorded a high voter turnout of 77.4% in the elections to decide the fate of 1,145 candidates, including 81 women and a transgender.
The CEO also said District Election Offices in the state, prominent public places and malls would witness TV screens, where live poll-results would be displayed.
With a view to ensuring peaceful and flawless completion of whole counting process adequate security arrangements were also put in place, Singh said, adding unauthorised persons would not be allowed to enter the counting centres. Singh said that no body except the Election Observers would be allowed to carry mobile phones into the counting centres.
“No other officers or candidates or counting agents, security personnel and staff would be allowed to take their mobiles inside the centres,” he said. The CEO said the poll results would also be updated on the website of election commission.