Assembly election Results 2023 highlights: Will form govt in 3 of 5 states, claims BJP after exit poll predictions

updates: Protests across Mizoram seeking change in counting date

Members of the Mizoram NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC) staged protests across the state seeking a change in the date of counting of votes for the state assembly polls scheduled on December 3.

"There is no doubt that Congress will form the government (in Telangana). I know the pulse of the common man and I know that Congress is coming to power," said Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury on exit polls.

"77.15 percent polling took place in EVMs and adding postal ballots to it, the voter turnout (for MP Assembly polls) stands at 77.82 percent. The voter turnout in the previous Assembly polls was 75.63 per cent. So, it is an increase of 2.19 percent," said Madhya Pradesh Chief Election Officer Anupam Rajan.

"Counting of votes will begin at 8 am. At first postal ballot will be counted. We have 2 lakh postal ballots this time and then EVM votes will be counted from 8.30 am onwards. We should start getting the trends by 10 am," said Telangana Chief Electoral Officer, Vikas Raj.

Since 1989, Mizoram has been witnessing a unique tradition of the incumbent government changing after two terms with power oscillating between the Congress party and the Mizo National Front (MNF). Last election, most of the exit polls indicated an MNF victory. According to exit polls, this time a clean sweep by the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) in Mizoram is expected. The incumbent Chief Minister Zoramthanga's Mizo National Front (MNF) is likely to be reduced to just 3-7 seats.

With an area of 4546 sq km, Vijaypur is the largest constituency in Madhya Pradesh while Jabalpur East is the smallest with an area of 11 sq km.

Approximately 16.1 crore people voted in the assembly elections, which were widely seen as "semi-finals" because they took place ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The term of the Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana assemblies end in January next year, while that of Mizoram ends in December.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra reacted to the state exit poll results saying that the BJP will win over 150 seats in the state assembly polls. "I had said in the beginning that we would win around 150 seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done work where the poor people have benefitted be it Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Ujjwala Yojana or Ayushman Bharat scheme. Similarly, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, as soon as he came into power, introduced many schemes beneficial to the poor. We are confident that we will win more than 150 seats," the home minister said while speaking to ANI.

On exit polls, BRS leader Putta Vishnuvardhan Reddy said, "The exit polls have gone miserably wrong in 2018. Last time, nearly 80 percent of all the predictions were wrong. We would like to question the Election Commission of India as to how the exit polls are allowed to be released when the polling is not yet done. Because at 5 pm yesterday, 63% of people cast their vote, and by the end of the day, it had topped 70%. So 7-8% of voters who were queuing up to cast their vote would be indirectly influenced by the exit poll surveys... Another point is that even in 2018, immediately after the exit polls, Revanth Reddy addressed the press, and he said that the grand alliance of Congress is coming back to power. He said that if he loses the Kodangal seat, he will permanently retire from politics... We believe that we are going to win more than 70 seats. KCR will take the oath for the third time."

"There is no uniformity in the exit polls in Rajasthan. But, I can say with confidence that the BJP will be winning over 120 seats," said BJP MP
Dr Kirodi Lal Meena on exit polls.

As per the Satta Bazar predictions, the fate of many heavyweights may be too close to call. The BJP has also fielded many Union ministers. According to the betting market, regional satraps such as Ashok Gehlot, Vasundhara Raje Scindia, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Sachin Pilot are likely to win from their respective seats

- Basic Premise Can be Faulty: Exit polls are based on the assumption that voters are saying the truth during personal interviews. Many could deliberately lie; others may be scared of speaking the truth.

- Cost-Cutting, Methodology, TAT Pressure: Cost-cutting and a lack of the proper research depth hampers data collection. Channels have tight budgets which can impact quality.
- Human Errors: While there have been technological advancements, apps, online questionnaires, geo tagging etc, but there is still the human element in the sampling.

- Unavailability of Caste/Socio Economic Data: Exact caste data of no constituency is available, as the last caste census was done in 1934.
- Not Enough Woman Samples: Women voters are in more numbers than men in three of the five states. Normalisation of samples can result in errors.

On CM face, Chhattisgarh Deputy CM and Congress leader T S Singh Deo said, "...In the last five years, our experience related to two and a half years was not good... We decided unanimously that what the high command decides is final... We do not want speculation, as it creates strain in relations as well... So we have decided to leave it on high command..."

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, " Because of the hard work of our workers and people's love and blessings, also because of schemes of Central govt, like Garib Kalyan Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, PM Awaz Yojana and MP govt's schemes like Ladli Behna Yojana, Ladli Laxmi Yojana, BJP has made a special place in the hearts of women...BJP will comeback with huge majority again"

"People of Rajasthan bore the brunt of political instability and corruption under the tenure of the Congress and have chosen to throw the party out of power," said BJP leader Dr Satish Poonia on exit polls.

On exit polls, LoP Rajasthan and BJP MLA Rajendra Rathore said, "Congress is going to face a shameful defeat. The Congress would be powerless. All of their claims would prove to be false. The BJP will make the government... Govind Dotasra is absolutely right, the results would be shocking because a lot of people including him are going to be cleaned. People were fed up with the Congress and they were eager to use their power of vote to uproot the Congress..."

Uttar Pradesh Minister Danish Azad Ansari said, " On 3rd December, when the poll results of 5 states will come, you will see that people's thoughts and faith are with BJP. The way PM Modi has ensured the development of all the regions...common people have full faith in BJP and Modi govt..."

Union Minister and BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, " It is Ashok Gehlot's job to do magic tricks...We exposed their (Congress) corruption and fought elections, based on that so surely, BJP is going to come to power(in Rajasthan) because people have made up their minds to throw away Congress govt"

On exit polls, Congress leader Ajoy Kumar said, "...We will form the government in Telangana, and we also have hope for Rajasthan. We have received reports indicating a favourable position in Madhya Pradesh. Our victory in Chhattisgarh is certain. Everything will be finalized on December 3...(CM) Gehlot is confident that we will form the government there...BRS people are eager to join Congress..."

Union Minister Prahlad Patel abstained from giving any clear remark on the exit polls and suggested to wait for December 3 for final election result.

The BJP leader said she doesn’t “rely” on exit polls. “They predict that a party will win between 112 and 130 seats (out of 230 seats in MP). Now, if that party gets 112 seats and loses elections, the exit pollsters claim they have proved right. But if that party gets 120 seats and wins, the exit polls claim their prediction was right."

If you go by the exit polls, BJP’s voter base continues to stay strong in the Hindi Heartland: Despite two decades of incumbency in Madhya Pradesh, a possible BJP resurgence in the state underscores this fact.

While exit polls have predicted a close contest in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who relied heavily on the Ladli Yojana to beat off anti incumbency, remained confident of a BJP victory.

Modi will remain a very influential leader. Though the results in Chattisgarh could be a disappointment but not unexpected for the BJP, wins in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh willpower Brand Modi for 2024.

Almost all the polls see a hung Assembly, predicting the ruling Mizo National Front may not cross the halfway mark nor will its main challenger the Zoram People’s Movement

Most exit polls have given the BJP the edge except Axis, which has predicted a narrow win for the Congress. BJP campaign centered on the issue of paper leak, crimes against women, infighting between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot.

Exit polls see the ‘Mukhyamantri Ladli Behana Yojana’ working in favour of the party. Under this scheme, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been transferring Rs 1,000-1,250 to the bank accounts of 1.32 crore women in the state for the past six months.

Axis has predicted a runaway win for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh with 140-162 seats. All other exit polls have predicted a narrower win for the BJP in MP.

Exit polls gave Congress a clear edge in Chhattisgarh despite reports of a divide. The BJP went into the election without a clear face.

BRS working president K T Rama Rao, son of KCR, panned the results. “I promise you on December 3 we are coming back. We are coming back anywhere between 70+ seats."

Exit polls predict a major setback for the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS, which has been in power in Telangana since the formation of the state in 2014. Polls predict a Congress sweep