Exit Poll Results 2021 LIVE Updates: Pollsters to predict election winners for four states, Puducherry after 7 pm today

18:29 (IST)

Exit poll results 2021 Latest updates:

What are exit polls?

 

An exit poll is a survey in which voters who are waiting to exiting the polling booth after casting their votes are asked who they voted for, in order to predict the result of the election in question. However, the  actual results may be completely different from the exit poll results, as was the case in Bihar Assembly elections, held in October-November last year. 

18:02 (IST)

Exit poll results 2021 Latest updates:

Results of exit polls likely after 7 pm, say reports

Results of the exit polls for four states —West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam — and the Union Territory of Puducherry are expected after 7 pm on Thursday, said reports. However, the Election Commission has banned the publication of these results till 7.30 pm.

Exit poll results 2021 latest updates: The results of the exit polls for four states and one Union Territory will be released at 7 pm today, said reports, after polling for the last phase of the West Bengal Assembly election ends. However, the Election Commission had banned the publishing  of exit poll results between till  7.30 pm on 29 April.

An election exit poll is a poll of voters taken soon after a voter walks out after casting his or her vote. It is considered as an indicator to which party forms the government. Unlike an opinion poll, which asks for whom the voter plans to vote, an exit poll asks for whom the voter actually voted. Exit polls are conducted by a number of organisations.

The counting of votes is scheduled for 2 May.

West Bengal

The state saw a three-cornered fight between the Trinamool Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left alliance. While the BJP was considered a marginal player in West Bengal at the time of the previous Assembly election 2016, it has emerged as a strong contender following its performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The TMC is seeking to win its third straight term in the state.

The West Bengal Assembly has a total of 294 seats. Elections were held in eight phases in the state from 27 March to 29 April.

Assam

Assam, currently governed by the BJP-led NDA, witnessed three-phase polling on 27 March, 1 and 6 April.

The BJP is hoping to retain power in the northeastern state. the saffron party is up against the combined challenge of eight parties including the Congress and the AIUDF of perfume baron turned politician Badruddin Ajmal, who might prove to be kingmaker.

The BJP and its allies AGP and UPPL contested 92 seats, 26 seats, and 8 seats respectively while the Congress claimed 94 seats for itself, AIUDF was allotted 14, Bodoland People’s Front got 12, and Communist Party of India (Marxist) just two.

The Rupun Sarma-led Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation, Ajit Kumar Buyan’s Anchalik Gana Morcha, and RJD have contested a seat each.

Tamil Nadu

Single phase election to the 243 seats in Tamil Nadu was held on  April. The main contest is between the DMK-Congress alliance and the AIADMK-BJP alliance.

The DMK is aiming to unseat the ruling party while the AIADMK is keen to ensure the continuation of "Amma aatchi" (Amma's rule) for an unprecedented third time. The MK Stalin-led party has been in the Opposition since 2011 when the AIADMK, under Jayalalithaa, stormed to the ruling saddle and also retained power in the subsequent elections in 2016.

The AIADMK however faces an uphill task, especially after the rout in the 2019 Lok Sabha election when the DMK-led alliance won 38 out of 39 seats.

As many as 3,998 candidates, including Chief Minister K Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam, DMK President MK Stalin, AMMK founder TTV Dhinakaran, actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan, Naam Tamizhar Katchi leader Seeman and BJP state unit chief L Murugan contested the election.

Kerala

Kerala's 140 seats went to the polls in a single phase on 6 April with 73.58 percent of the total 2.74 crore voters exercising their franchise.

The state is keenly watching a three-way battle between the incumbent Left-led LDF, the Congress-led UDF, and the BJP.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is seeking another term in office while several heavyweights,  including senior Congress leader and former chief minister Oommen Chandy, Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani, a key partner of the CPM-led LDF, two Rajya Sabha BJP MPs, KJ Alphons and Suresh Gopi are in the fray from constituencies spread across Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam and parts of Thrissur.

Puducherry 

Puducherry, currently under President’s Rule after the V Narayanasamy-led Congress government collapsed in February, voted in the Assembly polls on 6 April.

The seats spread across four districts voted in single-phase polls in the Union Territory where the UT recorded a voter turnout of 81.64 percent. Yanam, the seat from where AINRC chief N Rangasamy was contesting, registered a higher percentage of polling than other regions.

While the BJP has contested the polls in alliance with the AIADMK and AINRC, the Congress has allied with the DMK. While AINRC fielded candidates in 16 of the total 30 constituencies the BJP contested in nine seats, while the AIADMK was given five seats.

The Congress fielded candidates in 14 seats, DMK in 13 seats and the VCK and CPI are contested from one constituency each. The alliance fielded an Independent candidate from one constituency. Actor-turned-politician Kamal Hassan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) also contested the elections.

With inputs from PTI

April 29, 2021 at 06:19PM