'Deliberate attempt to justify rigging': INDIA bloc leaders term exit poll results 'bogus'

BFP dismisses their optimism as daydreaming’

A day after most exit polls predicted a landslide victory for the BJP-led NDA combine, the Congress on Sunday termed them “bogus”, saying they were a “deliberate attempt” to justify rigging of the elections.

The main Opposition party which leads the INDIA grouping said exit polls were part of “psychological games” being played by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lower the morale of the INDIA bloc workers.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi referred to late singer Sidhu Moosewala’s ‘295’ song, indicating the INDIA bloc will eventually achieve its target of 295 seats. Gandhi also sought to discredit the exit polls, claiming “they were Modi media poll and fantasy poll.’’

The BJP, in a jubilant mood after the exit poll projections, dismissed Gandhi’s optimism as “daydreaming’’. In his reaction, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the NDA will win 400 seats.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also hit out at PM Modi for holding several meetings, including a long brainstorming session to review the 100-day agenda of the “new government”, saying these were “pressure tactics” to send out a signal to the bureaucracy and the administrative structure that he is coming back.

He also said that the exit polls that came out Saturday evening are “completely bogus” and have been “orchestrated and masterminded by the man whose exit is inevitable and guaranteed on June 4”.

“These are all part of the psychological games being played by the outgoing prime minister (Narendra Modi) and the outgoing home minister (Amit Shah). The outgoing home minister calls up 150 District Magistrates and collectors yesterday. The results that the exit polls have come up will bear no relation to reality,” the Congress leader said.

Exit polls on Saturday predicted that Prime Minister Modi will retain power for a third straight term, with the BJP-led NDA expected to win a big majority in the Lok Sabha polls.