From Bengal to Kerala: Understanding exit poll trends across four states
BJP to retain Assam, tough contest in Bengal, DMK retains TN, UDF makes comeback in Kerala
New Delhi: Exit poll estimates for West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu were released after the conclusion of voting on Wednesday evening.
Counting of votes for all four states, along with Puducherry, is scheduled to take place on May 4.
West Bengal: Mixed projections, tight contest between TMC and BJP
Exit polls for West Bengal present divided projections, with some surveys indicating a lead for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), while others suggest an advantage for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to People’s Pulse, the TMC is projected to win between 177 and 187 seats, while the BJP is estimated to secure 95 to 110 seats.
Matrize projects the BJP ahead with 146 to 161 seats, while the TMC is estimated to win between 125 and 140 seats.
P-Marq also indicates a BJP lead, projecting 150 to 175 seats for the party and 118 to 138 seats for the TMC.
Chanakya Strategies estimates the BJP at 150 to 160 seats and the TMC at 130 to 140 seats, with other parties projected to win between 6 and 10 seats.
Assam: NDA projected to retain power
Most exit polls indicate a clear lead for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Assam.
According to People’s Pulse, the NDA is projected to win between 68 and 72 seats, while the Congress-led alliance (INC+) may secure 22 to 26 seats.
Matrize projects a higher tally for the NDA at 85 to 95 seats, with the INC+ alliance estimated at 25 to 32 seats.
Axis My India estimates the NDA could win between 88 and 100 seats, while the INC+ alliance may secure 24 to 36 seats.
JVC projects 88 to 101 seats for the BJP and 23 to 33 seats for Congress. It also estimates 0 to 2 seats for AIUDF and around three seats for others.
The Assam Assembly has a total of 126 seats.
Kerala: UDF ahead in most projections
Exit polls in Kerala suggest a lead for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) over the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
People’s Pulse projects 75 to 85 seats for the UDF and 55 to 65 seats for the LDF, while the NDA is expected to get between 0 and 3 seats.
Matrize estimates 70 to 75 seats for the UDF and 60 to 65 seats for the LDF, with the NDA projected at 3 to 5 seats.
Axis My India forecasts 78 to 90 seats for the UDF, while the LDF is estimated to secure between 49 and 62 seats. The NDA is projected to win between 0 and 3 seats.
The Kerala Assembly has 140 seats, with the majority mark at 71.
Tamil Nadu: DMK-INC alliance projected to lead
Exit polls in Tamil Nadu indicate a lead for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Indian National Congress (INC) alliance.
According to People’s Pulse, the DMK-INC+ alliance is projected to win between 125 and 145 seats. The NDA is estimated to secure 65 to 80 seats, while TVK may win between 18 and 24 seats.
Matrize projects 122 to 132 seats for the DMK-INC+ alliance, while the NDA is estimated at 87 to 100 seats. TVK is projected to win between 10 and 12 seats.
P-MARQ projects 125 to 145 seats for the DMK alliance and 60 to 70 seats for the AIADMK. TVK is estimated to win between 1 and 6 seats.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly has a total of 234 seats.
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Meghalaya: Interstate ATM theft racket busted, 6 arrested
Shillong (PTI): An interstate racket involved in ATM thefts across several states has been busted, with the arrest of six persons in connection with a break-in at an electronic banking outlet in Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district, police said on Wednesday.
The accused were allegedly involved in breaking into an ATM of the Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank on April 5, 2024, they said.
Three of the accused were arrested from Barpeta in Assam, while the remaining were apprehended from Haryana, police said.
Ri-Bhoi SP Giri Prasad M said a special police team was constituted to investigate the case.
"With coordinated efforts and assistance from Assam and Haryana Police, we were able to apprehend the accused involved in the ATM break-in," he told PTI.
The case was registered at Umiam police station under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to police, the gang used gas cutters to break open the ATM safe and fled with the cash within minutes.
"The group is part of a larger network involved in similar ATM thefts across different states. Further investigation is underway to dismantle the entire network," the SP added.
