Amid exit polls predicting clear victory of BJP in UP, ground reports still point towards close fight with SP

Uttar Pradesh (08/03/2022): Most exit polls have predicted a convincing victory for BJP in Uttar Pradesh. But opinion polls can be wrong and that has happened several times in the past. While most exit polls gave BJP as many seats as Trinamool in West Bengal, the results surprised all with a sweeping victory of TMC.

Hence the clear picture of who will sit on the throne of UP will only emerge in the afternoon of March 10.

However, if exit polls are to be taken on the face value in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP is likely to win another term by a landslide, signalling six exit polls. An aggregate of exit polls gives the BJP and its allies 241 of the state’s 403 seats – the majority-mark is at 202 – with Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party finishing second with 142 seats.

But if we speak to voters or consider the number of people that have gathered in opposition rallies in different parts of the state, the outcome of March 10 may be surprising.

Moreover, if discussions and debates in the nook and corners of the state are to be believed, not many are sure about the very high number of seats being given to BJP. Even in seat-wise details, many key constituencies where a tough fight between ruling party and key opposition is clearly visible, the edge being given to the former isn’t very trustworthy.

No wonder, these exit polls are open to scrutiny and may again prove to have missed the undercurrent.