NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday criticised the Indian National Congress for not televising the exit poll debate for the Lok Sabha elections, scheduled for Saturday after the seventh phase of voting ends.
In a scathing attack on the veteran party, Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah said, “The Congress has been in denial mode for long. It had been campaigning throughout the elections that it would get a majority, but it knows the situation. It cannot face the media as the next exit polls will show a massive defeat.”
“So, they are boycotting the entire exit polls. Exit polls have been going on for a long time but this time, due to the defeat, they don’t know how to explain it and that’s why they are boycotting. Ever since Rahul Gandhi took charge of the Congress, they have been in denial mode,” he added.
BJP leader JP Nadda was scathing about the BJP, saying, “The BJP’s decision not to take part in the exit polls on the eve of the seventh phase of voting is clear evidence that the BJP has conceded defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP usually abstains from voting if they expect the results to go against them, but if they see even the slightest chance they will not hesitate to go out and vote. Their hypocrisy is beyond anyone’s knowledge. No one should waste their vote for them in the seventh phase.”
The BJP leader also accused the Indian National Congress of casting doubt on surveys conducted by several expert agencies by boycotting the exit polls.
“The decision to boycott the exit polls has cast doubt on a survey conducted by several expert agencies that worked with thousands of stakeholders to produce the results as the people would have voted. Is the Congress’s allegation that there is a huge conspiracy involving millions of voters, all with an aim to make a mockery of it in the days leading up to the actual results on June 4? Acting like a child whose toy has been taken away is unbecoming of a great and ancient political party of India. A certain maturity is expected from the largest opposition party,” he said.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Malviya also criticised the Congress, saying “it may not be a bad idea”.
“On the eve of the seventh phase of voting, the Indian National Congress has conceded defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. With the outcome likely to be tougher than the exit polls say, it may not be a bad idea for the Indian National Congress to abstain from contesting on June 4 as well. Best of luck!” he wrote to X.
The BJP’s reaction came hours after the Indian National Congress announced that it would not take part in exit polls for the Lok Sabha elections as it did not want to “indulge in speculation and cut-throat battles for TRPs”.
Announcing his party’s decision on X, Khera listed out the reasons for not taking part in the exit poll debates: “Statement on reasons for not taking part in #ExitPolls The voters have voted and the verdict is final. The results will be declared on June 4th. We see no reason to indulge in speculations and cut-throat battles for TRPs before then. Indian National Congress will not take part in the #ExitPolls debates,” Khera wrote.
He also said the decision was only for the exit polls and the party would take part in debates from June 4. “Any debate should be aimed at informing the people. We are happy to take part in debates after June 4,” Khera said.
The exit polls are expected to be released on Saturday after the final phase of voting in the Lok Sabha elections ends.
As many as 904 candidates, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are contesting in the seventh phase of India’s Lok Sabha elections on Saturday. A total of 57 seats are going to polls across seven states – Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Punjab – and the union territory of Chandigarh.
The results of the general election will be announced on June 4th.
In a scathing attack on the veteran party, Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah said, “The Congress has been in denial mode for long. It had been campaigning throughout the elections that it would get a majority, but it knows the situation. It cannot face the media as the next exit polls will show a massive defeat.”
“So, they are boycotting the entire exit polls. Exit polls have been going on for a long time but this time, due to the defeat, they don’t know how to explain it and that’s why they are boycotting. Ever since Rahul Gandhi took charge of the Congress, they have been in denial mode,” he added.
BJP leader JP Nadda was scathing about the BJP, saying, “The BJP’s decision not to take part in the exit polls on the eve of the seventh phase of voting is clear evidence that the BJP has conceded defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP usually abstains from voting if they expect the results to go against them, but if they see even the slightest chance they will not hesitate to go out and vote. Their hypocrisy is beyond anyone’s knowledge. No one should waste their vote for them in the seventh phase.”
The BJP leader also accused the Indian National Congress of casting doubt on surveys conducted by several expert agencies by boycotting the exit polls.
“The decision to boycott the exit polls has cast doubt on a survey conducted by several expert agencies that worked with thousands of stakeholders to produce the results as the people would have voted. Is the Congress’s allegation that there is a huge conspiracy involving millions of voters, all with an aim to make a mockery of it in the days leading up to the actual results on June 4? Acting like a child whose toy has been taken away is unbecoming of a great and ancient political party of India. A certain maturity is expected from the largest opposition party,” he said.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Malviya also criticised the Congress, saying “it may not be a bad idea”.
“On the eve of the seventh phase of voting, the Indian National Congress has conceded defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. With the outcome likely to be tougher than the exit polls say, it may not be a bad idea for the Indian National Congress to abstain from contesting on June 4 as well. Best of luck!” he wrote to X.
The BJP’s reaction came hours after the Indian National Congress announced that it would not take part in exit polls for the Lok Sabha elections as it did not want to “indulge in speculation and cut-throat battles for TRPs”.
Announcing his party’s decision on X, Khera listed out the reasons for not taking part in the exit poll debates: “Statement on reasons for not taking part in #ExitPolls The voters have voted and the verdict is final. The results will be declared on June 4th. We see no reason to indulge in speculations and cut-throat battles for TRPs before then. Indian National Congress will not take part in the #ExitPolls debates,” Khera wrote.
He also said the decision was only for the exit polls and the party would take part in debates from June 4. “Any debate should be aimed at informing the people. We are happy to take part in debates after June 4,” Khera said.
The exit polls are expected to be released on Saturday after the final phase of voting in the Lok Sabha elections ends.
As many as 904 candidates, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are contesting in the seventh phase of India’s Lok Sabha elections on Saturday. A total of 57 seats are going to polls across seven states – Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Punjab – and the union territory of Chandigarh.
The results of the general election will be announced on June 4th.
