Opposition rejects exit polls: AIADMK confident of repeating 2011, 2016 victory

CHENNAI: Leaders of opposition parties in Tamil Nadu have rejected the exit polls that gave an edge to DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, calling them gimmicks and conspiracy by the ruling party.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said AIADMK front would win 210 seats. Expressing confidence that the party would replicate its performance from 2011 and 2016 assembly polls, he said, "With the blessings of ‘Puratchi Thalaivar' (M G Ramachandran) and ‘Puratchi Thalaivi' (J Jayalalithaa), AIADMK will certainly form the govt," adding that DMK's "gimmicks" would fail miserably.



He described the exit poll predictions as a "planned conspiracy" by DMK to divert the attention of people. Palaniswami said AIADMK rank and file should not be disheartened by the exit polls. "There is no history of exit polls coming true in all elections. AIADMK has proven such predictions wrong and has formed the govt in the past,'' he said.

Recalling the exit polls ahead of the 2011 and 2016 results, Palaniswami said most pollsters predicted a DMK victory. When media questioned AIADMK's chances at that time, then general secretary J Jayalalithaa replied that the party would win no less than 218 seats, Palaniswami said. "Ultimately, AIADMK won 203 seats and formed the govt. This time we will certainly win 210 seats. I am saying this with full confidence," he said.

BJP too dismissed the exit polls. Former Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan said, "Exit polls are not exact polls. Let us all wait for May 4 for the results."

Echoing similar views, TVK chief coordinator K Sengottaiyan told media persons at Coimbatore Airport that the party would win more than 200 seats in the state.

"The ‘whistle puratchi' (whistle revolution), led by party president Vijay, would rewrite Tamil Nadu's political history,'' he said.

"Exit polls have a history of falling flat. We have seen them go wrong in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and even in the Punjab state elections. Tamil Nadu will be no different. There is absolutely no connection between these surveys and the actual mandate of the people," he said.
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