AIMIM leader Waris Pathan stated on May 1 that exit polls are not “exact polls” and urged people to wait for the counting day, which will reveal the actual results. AIMIM contested 11 seats in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
“This is an exit poll, not an exact poll. We contested on 11 seats in total. The polling percentage was above 92%. You should wait. The EVM will be opened on the 4th May,” Pathan said.
Most exit polls have predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will unseat the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), which has governed West Bengal for the past 15 years. Chanakya Strategies forecast the BJP winning between 150 and 160 seats out of 294, securing a majority. It projected the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) would win 30 to 40 seats, with others taking six to 10 seats.
West Bengal witnessed its highest voter turnout since independence, with a historic 91.66 per cent participation during Phase II of the elections. However, the polling day also experienced heightened political tensions between the TMC and BJP concerning the deployment of security forces.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), poll participation in West Bengal during Phase II stood at 91.66 per cent as of 7:45 PM. Phase I, conducted on April 23, saw a turnout of 93.19 per cent, resulting in a combined turnout of 92.47 per cent for both phases.
“The combined poll percentage over the two phases stands at 92.47%. Previously, the highest poll-participation in WB was 84.72% (2011 GELA),” the ECI said in a release.
Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
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