Northeast Polls: TMC Confident Of Meghalaya Win Despite Exit Poll Results, Here's How Others Reacted

The TMC is confident that it will win an absolute majority in Meghalaya even as exit poll results said otherwise. Here's how others reacted.

The TMC is confident that it will win an absolute majority in Meghalaya even as exit poll results said otherwise. Here's how others reacted.

Exit polls have predicted a hung house in the northeastern state of Meghalaya, an absolute majority for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and regional Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) alliance in the princely state of Tripura, and a win for the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and BJP alliance in Nagaland. 

Reacting to exit poll results for Meghalaya, state Chief Minister and National People’s Party’s (NPP) South Tura candidate Conrad K Sangma said, “The exit polls which have come is in the right line but when the actual or final results will come out on March 2, we will see and on that basis decide.”

On the other hand, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC), sounded confident of gaining an absolute majority in the hill state though the exit polls were not in the party’s favour.

Speaking to ABP Live, TMC, Meghalaya state unit President Charles Pyngrope said, “I don’t believe too much on exit polls. But it is our reading that TMC will form the government in Meghalaya alone by getting an absolute majority.”

Meanwhile, BJP’s Meghalaya media convenor Ankur Jhunjhunwala told ABP Live, “It is clear from the exit polls that BJP is gaining much ground in Meghalaya. People are finding the party most acceptable and they are looking at us to form an alternate government. They have tried everything and realized that BJP is the only party that can provide development.”

“Probably, the exit polls to some extent reflect that, although we believe that the numbers are going to be much higher than what the exit polls have predicted and there is no doubt in our minds that the government which will be formed next after the March 2, BJP will be the most integral and important part, he said.”

“Many times we have seen that the exit polls have failed, several times where they have predicted that BJP will not win and suddenly it came out with an absolute majority, "Jhunjhunwala added.”

He further said, “We are expecting much better results than what the exit polls are predicting. So from that perspective, we are quite positive. Rest we will know once the results are out. If required to forge an alliance, we will look for like-minded parties, which will support our corruption-free development agenda for Meghalaya. We will take our decision on that basis.”

After repeated attempts by ABP Live for a reaction from the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Lok Sabha MP from Shillong constituency and MPCC President Vincent H Pala said, “I have not seen the exit polls because I am in the area where there is no internet. I am in my constituency and there is no internet.”  

Other senior MPCC representatives were found to be reacting on the same line as its Chief Vincent H Pala.

Reacting to the exit poll results for Tripura, BJP state media in-charge Sunit Sarkar told ABP Live, “The exit polls which have come out were expected. We will form the government. We will get 40+ seats, this is our assumption. The trend which is going on is pointing in that direction. We have ties with the IPFT. This time we also shared seats as usual.” 

While Assembly elections were held in Tripura on February 16, Meghalaya and Nagaland went to polls on February 27.

Voting was held in 59 of the total 60 Assembly constituencies in Meghalaya as the Election Commission of India (ECI) had adjourned the poll in the Sohiong Assembly constituency after the demise of one of the candidates HDR Lyngdoh, a candidate of the United Democratic Party (UDP) for the constituency, who died on February 20, after suffering a cardiac arrest.

On the other hand, BJP candidate Kazheto Kinimi won from the Akuluto seat of Nagaland uncontested after the Congress candidate Khekashe Sumi withdrew his candidature.

The counting of votes in all three states will take place on March 2.