Tejashwi Yadav Rejects Exit Polls, Calls Them “Godi Media Propaganda” Amid Bihar Election Tension
RJD leader and Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday refuted the exit poll projections for Bihar assembly elections majority of which showed a clear advantage to the NDA, with several pollsters predicting that Mahagatbandhan would not be able to form a government.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) November 12: Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday rejected several exit polls polls predicting a clear majority for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar assembly elections, asserting that such surveys are done under pressure of officers and part of a propaganda by “godi media”.
Tejashwi Dismisses Exit Polls as Pressure Tactics
Speaking at a press conference in Patna, Yadav alleged that even when voters were waiting in queues and the polling was underway, exit polls had started to come out and these indicated that the BJP-JD(U) coalition was heading for victory in the assembly elections.
He said, “We neither rejoice nor harbour any misconception over surveys. These surveys are just psychological pressure, brought under pressure by officers...The surveys have been shown by the same 'Godi Media', which had captured Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan (during Operation Sindoor). During SIR, they had made infiltrators enter Bihar. This is a propaganda by 'Godi Media’.”
Claims of Positive Ground Feedback
Tejashwi said that the Mahagathbandhan got feedback from the people after they voted and it has been satisfactory. He further added that change was on its way, even as they would appeal for recounting in some seats.
He said, “After the election ended, we collected feedback from people, and the information we received has been extremely positive. In the past, such positive feedback never used to come. You can say that the feedback we received this time is even better than what we got during the 1995 elections.”
Allegations of Biased Polls
He claimed that exit polls predicting the BJP-JD(U) combine win came when voters were waiting in queues and polling had not yet finished.
“Yesterday, people patiently waited in long queues, voting continued till six or seven in the evening. Yet, even as polling was underway, exit polls started appearing. We neither live in false optimism nor in misunderstanding. These surveys are released only to create a psychological effect and to influence the officials engaged in the election process,” he said.
Exit Polls Predict NDA Majority in Bihar
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is on course to retain power in Bihar, according to the Exit Poll, securing between 147 and 167 seats as against the majority mark of 122 in the 243-member Assembly. Votes will be counted on November 14.
The conducted survey showed that the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) led by RJD and including Congress and smaller parties are close to capture between 70-90 seats.
Jan Suraaj, the new political outfit of Prashant Kishor could win zero to two seats and AIMIM of Asaduddin Owaisi may get two to three seats. Other parties are projected to return between zero and five seats, according to the exit poll.
