Lok Sabha Elections 2024: AAP leader Sanjay Singh calls for ban on exit polls

Sanjay Singh. File Pic

Ahead of the counting day, Aam Aadmi Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Monday demanded a ban on exit polls in this country, claiming that they have been proven wrong several times, reported PTI.

Several exit polls conducted on Saturday predicted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will retain power for a third straight term, with the BJP-led NDA expected to win a big majority in the Lok Sabha polls.

During a press conference, Singh said, "Exit polls should be completely banned in the country since they have been proven wrong not once but many times. This is a wrong attempt to influence the people of the country, the administrative system, and the election commission before the poll counting."

In a post on X, Singh questioned how exit polls were alloting the BJP 19 seats of the 10 seats in Harayana. #AAPExposesExitpolls is currently trending on platform 'X'.

He claimed that the INDIA bloc will get 295 seats after the June 4 counting, said the PTI report.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday asserted that all exit polls that predicted a third term for the BJP-led NDA were "fake".

"Yesterday, exit polls were out and I can give you in writing that they are fake. In Rajasthan, there are 25 parliamentary seats but one exit poll gave them 33 seats. What was the reason that they had to release fake exit poll results?" Kejriwal asked.

India General Elections 2024: Exit polls a corporate game and fraud, claims Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday described the exit polls as a "corporate game and a fraud" and claimed there was pressure on the media companies which conduct it, reported news agency PTI.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, the Rajya Sabha member claimed the opposition INDIA bloc will win 295 to 310 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha and form government.

Raut also said they do not require the exit polls as they work on the field and know the "undercurrent", reported PTI.

Exit polls on Saturday predicted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will retain power for a third straight term, with the BJP-led NDA expected to win a big majority in the Lok Sabha polls, reported PTI.

Raut claimed, "There is lot of pressure on these media companies. The exit poll exercise is a corporate game and a fraud," reported PTI.

"Do these companies conduct exit polls for free?" he asked.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader claimed the opposition INDIA alliance will win 295 to 310 seats, reported PTI.

"This is not an exit poll but the figures are taken through a people's poll," he said.

In Maharashtra, the Maha Vikas Aghadi, which comprises the Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), will win more than 35 seats out of the total 48, Raut said.

"The Shiv Sena will maintain its 2019 tally of 18 seats and the Congress and NCP will also do well. (NCP(SP) Lok Sabha member) Supriya Sule will win in Baramati by more than 1.5 lakh votes and the Congress will deliver its best performance," he said, reported PTI.

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka will bring a change in the country along with Maharashtra, Raut claimed.

"We don't require exit polls, we are working on the field. We understand the undercurrent," he said, reported PTI.

"The INDIA bloc will win 35 seats (out of 80) in UP and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (headed by Lalu Prasad) will get 16 seats (out of 40) in Bihar," he claimed, reported PTI.