‘Exit polls are Modi polls… not true’: Karnataka minister KN Rajanna

BENGALURU : After the exit polls predicted a victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha polls, Karnataka minister and Congress leader KN Rajanna rubbished the predictions, terming it “Modi polls”.

“Exit polls are ‘Modi polls’….The exit polls are not true….In Karnataka, we will be in double digits and win more than 15 seats”, Rajanna said.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: On exit polls, Karnataka Minister K N Rajanna says, “Exit polls are ‘Modi polls’….The exit polls are not true….In Karnataka, we will be in double digits and win more than 15 seats” pic.twitter.com/651f1KGrm5

— ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2024

According to the exit polls, the JDS-BJP alliance in Karnataka is poised to win 23 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats, of which BJP will end up winning 22 seats while the Congress may win just five seats.

While overall the exit polls on Saturday predicted a landslide victory for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the LS polls. According to India Today-Axis My India exit polls, NDA is predicted to win 361-401 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. The INDIA bloc is expected to win 131-166 seats, it said and gave 8 to 20 seats to other parties.

The Republic PMarq exit poll gave 359 of 543 seats to NDA, 154 to INDIA bloc and 30 to others. Republic Matrize poll gave 353-368 seats to NDA, 118-113 to the INDIA bloc and 43-48 to others. The NewsX Dynamics gave 371 seats to NDA, 125 to INDIA bloc and 47 to others.

Meanwhile, several Congress leaders including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and Rahul Gandhi have expressed confidence that the INDIA bloc, which was formed to take on the BJP, will comfortably cross the 295-mark.

However, the BJP leaders, rejoicing at the poll predictions, stated that the people of the country have voted in record numbers to elect the NDA government for a third term.

“I can say with confidence that the people of India have voted in record numbers to reelect the NDA government. They have seen our track record and the manner in which our work has brought about a qualitative change in the lives of the poor, marginalised and downtrodden”, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on ‘X’.

If the exit poll predictions come true on June 4 when votes are counted, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will become the only PM after Jawaharlal Nehru to win three successive terms in Lok Sabha polls. The exit polls predicted ‘Modi 3.0’ with PM Modi having led the BJP’s poll effort through rallies and roadshows in various parts of the country.

The Lok Sabha polls were held in seven phases starting from April 19 to June 1.

The counting of votes will be done on Tuesday. (ANI)