The exit polls for 2019 Lok Sabha polls have predicted a comfortable majority for the BJP-led NDA government. As per the exit polls, the BJP is not only going to largely retain its strongholds despite the opposition parties coming together in a Mahagathbandhan but is also set to make massive inroads into states like West Bengal and Odisha. In what can be described as Modi Wave 2.0, the BJP seems to be in a comfortable position as far as all the big fights are concerned. Some of the Lok Sabha seats had become a matter of prestige in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The opposition was banking heavily on certain faces, but the BJP seems to be enjoying an edge in all such contests.
Shatrughan Sinha v Ravi Shankar Prasad
After making a flurry of controversial comments, actor-turned-politician and former BJP leader, Shatrughan Sinha finally joined the Congress in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Sinha had emerged victorious in the Patna Sahib Lok Sabha seat from a BJP ticket in the 2009 and 2014 elections. He contested from the same constituency this time around as well but on a Congress ticket. The BJP fielded its senior leader, Ravi Shankar Prasad from the Patna Sahib Lok Sabha seat against Sinha. It obviously became a matter of prestige.
However, much to the agony of the Mahagathbandhan, the BJP-led NDA is sweeping the state of Bihar according to the exit polls. The exit polls have predicted that Sinha is likely to lose from the Patna Sahib constituency. The BJP is clearly winning this contest.
Kanhaiya Kumar v Giriraj Singh
Former JNUSU president, Kanhaiya Kumar had come in the limelight after anti-national slogans were raised at the JNU on an event organised during the death anniversary of Afzal Guru, a terrorist involved in the Parliament attack. Kanhaiya is also facing sedition charges in connection with this case. He contested on a CPI ticket from the Begusarai Lok Sabha constituency. The opposition leaders have changed constantly backed him as an epitome of free speech. As such the opposition had pinned hopes on Kanhaiya Kumar. However, Kanhaiya Kumar also seems to have been done in even as the BJP seems all set to win big in the state of Bihar. The exit polls have predicted Kanhaiya’s defeat at the hands of BJP candidate Giriraj Singh.
Atishi Marlena v Gautam Gambhir
The East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency witnessed a high voltage contest between Atishi Marlena, who dropped her surname as instructed by the AAP. However, she filed her affidavit under the name “Atishi Marlena” only. The Kejriwal led party pinned all its hopes on Atishi hailing her as an educationist. Both the AAP and the BJP campaigned intensively. However, things turned bitter when the AAP alleged that the BJP candidate Gautam Gambhir had distributed abusive pamphlets about the AAP candidate. Certain pamphlets were distributed in the constituency and the AAP launched a tirade against Gambhir without any proof. AAP instead of catching the actual perpetrators and being sympathetic towards Atishi went and accused Gautam Gambhir for this activity. Gautam Gambhir is meanwhile perturbed at such allegations and has even tweeted, “I declare that if it’s proven that I did it, I will withdraw my candidature right now. If not, will u quit politics?” With such bitter campaigning by the AAP, the East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency became a battle of prestige between the two parties.
However, the AAP seems all set for a shocking defeat as per the exit polls. The BJP is all set to repeat its 2014 performance and register a clean sweep in Delhi while the Congress and AAP are predicted to draw a blank. Even those exit polls which predicted six out of seven seats for the BJP predict the remaining one seat in favour of the Congress. As such all the exit polls have predicted that AAP will fail to open its account. The AAP is clearly the loser in the high profile battle in the East Delhi constituency.
Shashi Tharoor v Kummanam Rajasekharan
This could prove to be a real shocker for the Congress and the entire liberal brigade. According to an exit poll conducted by Mathrubhumi News and Geowide India, NDA candidate Kummanam Rajasekharan from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency looks set to defeat the Congress candidate, Shashi Tharoor. Even other exit polls have predicted one seat for the BJP in the state of Kerala. The BJP is reportedly pinning most of its hopes on the Thiruvananthapuram constituency. In 2014 also, the BJP had come really close to winning this constituency. Tharoor is not only a senior Congress leader but also a celebrated icon for the liberal brigade. If the exit poll predictions prove to be true, the liberal brigade would be in for a big shock.