As exit polls for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections predict a decisive victory for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to voters and exuded confidence that the electorate has chosen to re-elect his government. In his first statement after a 45-hour meditation session at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to thank the people of India for their active participation in the democratic process.
PM Modi’s First Tweet Comes After The Release Of Exit Polls
“India has voted! A heartfelt thank you to all those who exercised their franchise. Their active participation is the cornerstone of our democracy. Their commitment and dedication ensure that the democratic spirit thrives in our nation,” Modi tweeted. He further appreciated the enthusiastic involvement of women and youth, noting, “I would also like to specially appreciate India’s Nari Shakti and Yuva Shakti. Their strong presence at the polls is a very encouraging sign.”
Reflecting on the predicted outcomes, Modi said, “I can say with confidence that the people of India have voted in record numbers to re-elect the NDA government. They have seen our track record and the manner in which our work has brought about a qualitative change in the lives of the poor, marginalized, and downtrodden.” He highlighted the transformative impact of his government’s policies, which have propelled India to being the world’s fifth-largest economy, adding, “Every scheme of ours has reached the intended beneficiaries without any bias or leakage.”
Modi also took the opportunity to criticize the opposition, particularly the INDIA alliance, stating, “The opportunistic INDI Alliance failed to strike a chord with the voters. They are casteist, communal, and corrupt. This alliance, aimed to protect a handful of dynasties, failed to present a futuristic vision for the nation. Through the campaign, they only enhanced their expertise on one thing – Modi bashing. Such regressive politics has been rejected by the people.”
According to an aggregate of 12 exit polls, the NDA is projected to secure 365 seats, with the BJP alone expected to win 317 seats. The opposition INDIA bloc is predicted to garner only 146 seats. The most optimistic exit poll for the NDA, conducted by News 24-Today’s Chanakya, forecasts 400 (plus/minus 15) seats for the ruling alliance and 335 (plus/minus 15) for the BJP.
The predictions indicate an impressive performance by the NDA in regions traditionally less favorable to them, such as the South and Bengal. In Andhra Pradesh, the alliance with Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is expected to yield 18 of the state’s 25 seats. In Karnataka, despite the state’s preference for Congress in local elections, the BJP is predicted to win a majority of the seats. Similarly, significant gains are anticipated in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
In Bengal, the BJP is projected to increase its 2019 tally of 18 seats to 22, surpassing the Trinamool Congress for the first time. In Odisha, the BJP is expected to win 15 of the state’s 21 seats, diminishing the influence of Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal.
Despite the exit polls’ favorable predictions for the NDA, the opposition has dismissed the results as manipulated. Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, stated, “The man whose exit is certain on June 4th has had these exit polls orchestrated. The INDIA Janbandhan will definitely get a minimum of 295 seats, which is a clear and decisive majority.”
Trinamool Congress leader Santanu Sen recalled previous instances of exit poll inaccuracies, saying, “Most of the exit polls had predicted a victory for the BJP in the 2021 assembly elections. But we all know what the actual results were — TMC won a two-thirds majority. We believe in people’s polls, not opinion polls or exit polls. The TMC will win more than 30 Lok Sabha seats in the state.”
Sujan Chakraborty of the CPI(M) also urged caution, stating, “Exit polls and opinion polls often do not align with actual outcomes. We should wait for the official results.”
In Tamil Nadu, where the BJP is expected to make gains, state unit chief K. Annamalai expressed optimism, stating, “A state where you said BJP can’t enter, a state till yesterday AIADMK and DMK were saying we are NOTA party…today we have proven that our vote share is above 20%. On June 4, we will prove that we are going to open our seats and we are going to send MPs from Tamil Nadu on behalf of NDA and BJP from different corners of the state…people of Tamil Nadu have said that they will stand with PM Modi.”
The counting of votes will take place on June 4, and the final results are expected the same day. If the exit polls hold true, Narendra Modi will become only the second Prime Minister in Indian history, after Jawaharlal Nehru, to win three consecutive terms. This anticipated victory is likely to boost financial markets, with experts predicting a significant rally in Indian equities and a positive impact on bond yields.
