India
Average of all exit polls gives Didi an impressive 187 seats.
Updated : May 16, 2016, 11:08 PM IST
If exit polls are to believed, Mamata Banerjee is making a comeback in Bengal. According to the exit polls, which have been published shortly after 6pm on Monday, it is absolutely clear that Didi is coming back to power but probably with a smaller majority.
If the actual results are In congruence with the exit polls, in effect Mamata Banerjee would have countered the alliance of Congress and CPIM to win West Bengal again. Elections for the 294 assembly constituencies were carried out between April 3 and May 4.
Mamata's government was rocked by numerous disasters in the run up to the polls. Be it the unfortunate flyover accident or the Narada sting or the photoshop-gate involving Derek O' Brien, it looked like the Mamata's government could do no right. The aforementioned, alongside the lingering effects of Sarada scam and a bolstered opposition after the alliance between Congress and Left meant it was supposed to be a nail-bitting elections.
But if the exit polls are any indication, Didi may have had the last laugh despite all the predictions and alacrity of Election Commission which pleased the opposition to a large extent.
Let's look at how the opinion polls have stacked up:
Agency | TMC | LEFT+ | BJP | Others |
Nielsen | 163 | 126 | 1 | 4 |
C-Voter | 167 | 120 | 4 | 3 |
Axis- My India | 233-251 | 38-51 | 1-5 | 2-5 |
News Nation | 153 | 136 | 0 | 3 |
Chanakya | 210 | 70 | 14 | 0 |
Average of polls | 187 | 99 | 5 | 3 |
There is something to take heart for the Left and Congress too. The C- voter, New Nation and Nielsen survey gives Didi a majority, but the opposition is tantalisingly close. Also the difference in vote share is pretty small. Hence the opposition can still stand a chance if the 'silent voter' has spoken up as they hope. The final verdict will only be known on May 19th, but Mamata Banerjee probably will be a relieved person seeing predictions.