Exit Polls Predict
The exit polls published in the evening of 16 May for West Bengal Assembly polls 2016 held in
seven phases spread over 32 days predict Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) retains power and
forms the government the second time in a row. The predictions belie the hope
and claim of the opposition and main contender Left Front-Congress Alliance,
the strange bedfellows, that they would dethrone the Didi’s party. It also
might have dampen the spirit of certain euphoric mobile apps and social networks users who predicted with statistical jugglery a victory of the Alliance ,and even released
a cabinet .However, the Alliance leaders would not yield ground till the counting and declaration
of the results by the Election Commission. They are hopeful that the formation of an alliance
government is only a matter of time. CPI-M MP Ritabrata Banerjee
and Congress leader Abdul Mannan said that whatever might be the exit poll
prediction, the formation of the alliance government was "imminent". Mannan claimed people had voted in favour
of the alliance. We all tend to hope against hope till the end.
Another Mamata Magic
Nidhu Bhusan Das
The exit polls published in the evening of 16 May for West Bengal Assembly polls 2016 held in
seven phases spread over 32 days predict Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) retains power and
forms the government the second time in a row. The predictions belie the hope
and claim of the opposition and main contender Left Front-Congress Alliance,
the strange bedfellows, that they would dethrone the Didi’s party. It also
might have dampen the spirit of certain euphoric mobile apps and social networks users who predicted with statistical jugglery a victory of the Alliance ,and even released
a cabinet .However, the Alliance leaders would not yield ground till the counting and declaration
of the results by the Election Commission. They are hopeful that the formation of an alliance
government is only a matter of time. CPI-M MP Ritabrata Banerjee
and Congress leader Abdul Mannan said that whatever might be the exit poll
prediction, the formation of the alliance government was "imminent". Mannan claimed people had voted in favour
of the alliance. We all tend to hope against hope till the end.
TMC
spokesperson Derek O'Brien
said in response to the polls: "We don't want to comment. But there has
been a negative campaign run against us by the BJP and the Congress and
Left."
He said, “We
will wait for May 19 and the actual results. The people of Bengal will bless Trinamool abundantly. Mamata Banerjee government's peace and
communal harmony will win the hearts and minds of the people of Bengal ."
 |
| Courtesy: NDTV |
The poll of polls - which aggregates different exit polls -
shows the Chief Minister's Trinamool Congress wins 184 of 294 seats. It has the
same number of seats, 184, in the outgoing assembly.
The Left-Congress Alliance is predicted to win 103 seats and the BJP, five.
India Today predicts a landslide for the Trinamool with 243 seats. It says the Left-Congress will win 45 seats and the BJP will win three.
ABP Ananda predicted that 163 seats would go to the Trinamool, 126 to the Alliance and the BJP would get one seat.
Chanakya gives Mamata Banerjee's party 210 seats, the Left and Congress 70 and the BJP 14 seats.
Senior journalist Manini Chatterjee said,” I feel that Mamata Banerjee's hold over the underclass, the poor is very much there. I think she has the edge in Bengal.”
The Left-Congress Alliance is predicted to win 103 seats and the BJP, five.
India Today predicts a landslide for the Trinamool with 243 seats. It says the Left-Congress will win 45 seats and the BJP will win three.
ABP Ananda predicted that 163 seats would go to the Trinamool, 126 to the Alliance and the BJP would get one seat.
Chanakya gives Mamata Banerjee's party 210 seats, the Left and Congress 70 and the BJP 14 seats.
Senior journalist Manini Chatterjee said,” I feel that Mamata Banerjee's hold over the underclass, the poor is very much there. I think she has the edge in Bengal.”
Dr Sandeep Shastri said, “Voters are giving time to the Mamata government to
deliver on promises made.”
Surjit Bhalla said, “What we
are seeing in Assam West Bengal is the beginning of the end of Congress.”
