BJP surging ahead of BJD in LS election, predict Exit Polls

Surjit Kumar Dhal,Bhubaneswar, May 20: The BJP appeared heading for an unexpected score in Odisha beating the ruling BJD in the election to the Lok Sabha held recently, the exit polls indicated on Sunday.

            According to the exit polls, which are not correct always and have been proved to be totally wrong on several occasions in the past, the Biju Janata Dal in Odisha is in for a huge shock with its arch rival stealing the show.

            Barring only one exit poll, all forecast much better prospect for the saffron party.

            As per the Times Now/VMR projections the ruling BJD, which had 20 of the 21 seats in the State in the outgoing Lok Sabha, will lose eight to the saffron party and one to the Congress.

            The Poll of Polls of leading national channel NDTV predicted equal numbers for both the BJD and BJP—10 each—and one to Congress. The Congress, which had drawn a blank in 2014 polls, will however have the solace of bagging one, it forecast.

            Yet another pollster Republic-CVoter predicted 11 seats for the BJD and 10 per the BJP. It did not forecast win of the Congress in any of the seats in Odisha.

            The Jan Ki Baat, however, predicted only 8 seats for the ruling party—a loss of nearly 12 seats—and 12 for the BJP and only one for the Congress.

            The India TV, however, predicted the maximum 15 seats for the BJD and only six for the BJP.

            The Congress was likely to draw a blank, this time also, if the exit poll of India TV is to be believed.