Exit polls give BJP edge in West Bengal, win in Assam

Several exit polls on Wednesday predicted a clear edge for the BJP over the ruling TMC in West Bengal, a thumping victory for the BJP in Assam, a return of the DMK Government in Tamil Nadu and a comeback by the Congress-led UDF in Kerala after a decade.

Pollsters also forecast a return to power for the AINRC-led NDA Government in Puducherry. The counting of votes for all the five State Assembly which went to polls this month is scheduled on May 4.

In West Bengal, Matrize has predicted a BJP edge in the State, and said it is likely to get 146-161 seats. It said the TMC would get 125-140 seats. P-Marq predicted 150-175 for the BJP and 118-138 to the TMC while the People’s Pulse exit poll predicted that the TMC would get 177-187 seats, BJP 95-110, Left Front 0-1 and the Congress 1-3. West Bengal has a total of 294 seats with the majority mark being 148.

Axis My India predicted a sweep for the BJP in Assam, forecasting 88-100 seats for the BJP and its allies and 24-36 seats for the Congress and its partners. People’s Pulse predicted that the NDA would get 68-72 seats while the Congress plus would secure in the range of 22-26 seats. Matrize said the NDA is likely to get between 85-95 seats and the Congress and its allies 25-32. The Assam assembly has 126 seats with the magic mark being 64.

In Kerala, Axis My India forecast that the UDF would get 78-90 seats, LDF 49-62 and NDA 0-3. People’s Pulse predicted that the Congress-led UDF would get 75-85 seats, the LDF 55-65 and the NDA 0-3. Matrize forecast 60-65 seats for the LDF, 70-75 seats for the UDF and 3-5 seats for the NDA. Kerala Assembly has a total of 140 seats with the magic mark being 71.

In Tamil Nadu, the People’s Pulse predicted 125-145 for the DMK-led alliance, 65-80 for AIADMK-BJP and 18-24 for TVK. Matrize forecast that the DMK-Congress would get 122-132, NDA 87-100 and TVK 10-12. The Tamil Nadu has a total of 234 seats with the magic mark being 118.

In Puducherry, Axis My India predicted 16-20 seats for the NDA and 6-8 for the DMK-Congress. It said the TVK is likely to get 2-4 seats in the assembly. There are 30 elected seats in Puducherry. The counting of votes for all the five assemblies — West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and Assam — will be taken up on May 4.

Polls were conducted in a single phase in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. West Bengal saw two-phase polling on April 23 and 29.

On April 9, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry went to polls.