Political strategist Prashant Kishor expressed his disdain for “fake journalists and loudmouth politicians” on social media, urging the public to avoid “useless discussions” and “analyses” following the release of exit polls for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The exit polls, released on June 1, overwhelmingly predict a third consecutive term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA expected to secure a substantial majority.
In a pointed message on X (formerly Twitter), Kishor wrote in Hindi, “Next time there’s talk of elections and politics, don’t waste your valuable time on the useless discussions and analyses of idle fake journalists, loudmouth politicians, and self-proclaimed social media experts.”
Prashant Kishor, who leads the Jan Suraaj Party, has been consistent in his predictions, suggesting that the BJP could win around 303 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, similar to their tally in the 2019 polls. In an interview with The Print, he reiterated his assessment, forecasting that the BJP-led NDA would achieve comparable or slightly better results, particularly in eastern and southern India.
“According to my assessment, the BJP is going to come back with the same or slightly better numbers. In western and northern India, I don’t see a significant shift in the number of seats. The party has gained adequate support from regions in the east and south of India,” Kishor stated. He noted the BJP’s intensified efforts to strengthen its presence in states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, anticipating gains due to the electorate’s relative unfamiliarity with the BJP in these regions.
Exit Poll Results Overview
Various exit polls released on June 1 have provided a broad consensus on the likely outcome of the elections:
- India Today-Axis My India: Predicted 361-401 seats for the NDA and 131-166 seats for the opposition INDIA bloc.
- ABP-C Voter: Forecast 353-383 seats for the NDA and 152-182 seats for the opposition.
- Today’s Chanakya: Projected 335 seats for the BJP and 400 for the NDA, with a margin of 15 seats either way, and 107 seats for the opposition.
- Times Now-ETG Research: Estimated 358 seats for the NDA and 152 seats for the opposition.
- News18: Suggested the BJP alone could win 306-315 seats, with its alliance securing 355-370 seats, and the opposition bloc gaining 125-140 seats.
- Republic TV-P Marq: Predicted up to 359 seats for the NDA and 154 for the opposition INDIA bloc.
- Jan Ki Baat: Estimated 362-392 seats for the NDA and 141-161 for the opposition.
- India TV-CNX: Gave 371-401 seats to the NDA and 109-139 to the opposition.
- News Nation: Predicted 342-378 seats for the NDA and 153-169 seats for the opposition.
If these exit polls prove accurate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will match Jawaharlal Nehru’s record of leading his party to victory for a third consecutive term. The BJP’s slogan of ‘400 paar’ for its alliance in the Lok Sabha polls seems within reach, based on these predictions.
Prashant Kishor earlier predictions align with the exit polls, indicating no significant dissatisfaction with the BJP government at the Centre. In a previous interview with NDTV, Kishor emphasized the absence of widespread public anger against Modi, suggesting that the BJP is poised for another victory.
The official counting of votes is scheduled for June 4, which will ultimately confirm whether the exit poll predictions hold true. As the political landscape evolves, the strategic moves and public sentiments reflected in these elections will continue to shape India’s future trajectory.
