Ranchi: Moments after several of the exit polls predicted wins for the BJP-led NDA in Jharkhand, the saffron camp welcomed them while the INDIA bloc said it believed in "exact" polls and not "exit polls", stressing that whatever outcome people gave on November 23 would be acceptable to them.
While two exit polls give the INDIA bloc the advantage, four others said the NDA will cross the magic mark of 41 in the state.
P-Marq exit poll projected NDA to bag 31 and 40 seats, and the INDIA bloc would secure between 37 and 47 seats. P-Marq also predicted other parties to win between two and eight seats.
Axis My India also predicted the INDIA bloc's win with 53 seats, while the NDA is expected to win only 25 seats. Other parties are projected to bag three seats.
In its prediction, Chanakya said the BJP-led NDA would form the next govt in the state with 45 to 50 seats while the JMM-led INDIA bloc could win between 35 and 38 seats. Another pollster, People's Pulse predicted BJP win with 44 and 53 seats and its ally — Ajsu-P to bag two to five seats. It further said JMM would muster only 16-23 seats and its ally Congress 8-14 seats. Matrize also gave a clear victory to the NDA with projections ranging between 42 and 47 seats and the INDIA bloc restricted to 25-30 seats.
In a post on X, chief minister Hemant Soren thanked the voters for the bumper turnout and for paving the way for the INDIA bloc's return. JMM's Rajya Sabha member and Ranchi seat candidate Mahua also Majhi said, "The ground is clear for our govt's return to office. The higher turnout not just in rural areas but in certain urban pockets is also indicative of our return. Maiyan Samman Yojana along with our other welfare schemes have appealed to the people." Former state congress chief Rajesh Thakur also said, "We believe in ‘exact polls', not the exit polls… Whatever the decision would be on Nov 23, we will respect it."
State BJP president Babulal Marandi claimed that BJP-led NDA would bag above 51 seats.