As the counting of votes for the Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections unfolded on Tuesday, social media erupted with reactions highlighting the stark discrepancy between the predicted outcomes and the actual results. Initial trends indicated that the ruling BJP was leading significantly ahead of Congress, contradicting various exit polls that had forecasted a straightforward victory for the latter. Political analysts and observers, particularly those familiar with election predictions, were quick to criticize the accuracy of these forecasts.
The disconnect between the exit polls and the results prompted a flurry of comments on social media. One user, Siddharth, expressed frustration by stating, “Exit polls have become a joke in India. Band kar do bhaai inko (please end them).” Another user, Abhi, chimed in with a pointed remark about pollster Pradeep Gupta, saying, “Sucks to be Yashwant Deshmukh and Pradeep Gupta today. This is a disaster.”
Pradeep Gupta crying. 🥹🥹 pic.twitter.com/kRRRNv3fsc
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) June 4, 2024
Last week, multiple exit polls forecasted a clear majority for the Congress party in Haryana’s 90-member assembly. The Axis My India exit polls projected Congress to secure between 53 and 65 seats, while it anticipated the BJP would manage only 18 to 28 seats. The exit polls also suggested a minimal impact from the INLD-BSP alliance, predicting just 1 to 5 seats for them. Notably, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was projected to win no seats at all.
Time for Pradeep Gupta to repeat this performance? 👀 pic.twitter.com/ynTUxDbGOz
— Cow Momma (@Cow__Momma) October 8, 2024
This is not the first time Pradeep Gupta has faced scrutiny for inaccurate predictions. During the Lok Sabha elections in June this year, Gupta broke down on live television as the results deviated significantly from the exit poll projections made by his agency. According to the India Today-Axis My India exit polls, the NDA was predicted to secure between 361 and 401 seats, while the INDIA bloc was expected to win 131 to 166 seats, with other parties projected to gain 8 to 20 seats. Gupta’s emotional reaction, which required consolation from anchors, has become emblematic of the pitfalls of relying on exit polls in an unpredictable political landscape.
As the situation unfolds in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, the validity of exit polls remains a contentious topic among voters and analysts alike.
