In Hindi heartland, BJP may be able to reverse state poll losses
NEWDELHI:THE Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to bounce back after assembly election losses in three key heartland states and capture a big chunk of the Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, a clutch of exit polls predicted on Sunday. The polls showed the Congress, which formed the government in these states in December, may not have built on its gains in the state polls. The BJP was predicted to, more or less, repeat its dominant performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when it won 62 out of the 65 seats in the three states.
In Rajasthan, which has 25 seats, News24-today’s Chanakya survey predicted a sweep for the BJP and a rout for the Congress. India Today-axis gave 23-25 seats to the BJP and 1-3 to the Congress. ABP News-nielsen gave the BJP 19 seats. In 2014, the BJP swept all 25 seats in the state but lost power in December to the Congress, which won 100 seats in the 200member assembly.
In Madhya Pradesh, which has 29 seats, News24-today’s Chanakya survey gave the BJP 27 and the Congress 2 seats with a margin of error of two seats. India Today-axis My India gave 24-26 to the BJP and 1-3 to the Congress.
ABP News-nielsen said the BJP may win 24 seats and the Congress five. In 2014, the BJP had won 27 seats but the Congress wrested power from it after 15 years in December, winning a slim majority in the 230-member assembly.
In Chhattisgarh, which has 11 seats, News24-today’s Chanakya said the BJP will win nine seats and the Congress two, with a margin of error of two seats. The India Today-axis poll forecast that the BJP will win 7-8 seats and the Congress 3-4. ABP News-nielsen predicted a neck-and-neck battle with the BJP slightly ahead at six seats and the Congress at five. In December, the Congress had secured a two-thirds majority in the 90-member assembly and removed the BJP from power after 15 years.
“Exit polls show people have reposed their faith in the BJP but results will clear the real picture...the voters have become mature and it seems that they did not mix state and national politics,” said Sheila Rai, a retired professor of political science at St Xavier’s College, Jaipur.