Tamil Nadu polls: TV editors differ on exit polls; pollsters doubt results

CHENNAI: The last word has not been said on the exit polls. After most of them late on Monday predicted its defeat, the AIADMK camp should be upbeat now after the Thanthi TV’s exit poll said the party is likely to win 111 seats out of the total of 234 (less 2 where the poll has been put off to May 23) whereas the rival DMK alliance could bag 99 seats.

The AIADMK supporters woke up Tuesday a lot more cheerful following tweets from Rajdeep Sardesai, consulting editor, India Today group, seemingly regretting his excitement of Monday evening when he was convinced that the DMK would emerge the winner after the votes are counted on May 19.

Infographics

Later in the night, at 11.16 pm to be exact, he tweeted:“I fear one of the axis My India exit poll figures may miss the mark. Now, don’t ask me which state! #exitpoll”.

And he did provide his answer later, tweeting at 7.25 am on Tuesday: “Would never discount amma! Let’s wait till 19th”. Rajdeep, perhaps, did not sleep through the night before that “confession”. Many others too have raised doubts over the exit polls and questioned all the associated excitement.