Exit polls come to an end, 'Modi card' helps BJP stay ahead in the electoral race

Exit polls from Assembly elections in all five states surprisingly indicate that the 'Modi wave' is still in effect

BJP is projected to make impressive gains in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Manipur and fight tough in Goa.

But for Punjab, where its alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal seemed doomed from the start, the party's leadership can feel happy for now.

Apart from the BJP, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party also fared well.

If we had to look at the real losers in the game, they are SAD and the Samajwadi Party.

The Congress is showing a comeback in Punjab after almost a decade, fighting neck and neck in Goa and performing decently in Uttarakhand, despite a bunch of defections.

Electoral alliance with the SP in Uttar Pradesh benefitted it, but ended up marring SP's performance.

In Manipur, meanwhile, the BJP made impressive gains, but the exit polls show the Congress managed to fight back some as the battle is still neck and neck.


As for AAP, in Punjab, it has gone from non-existent in 2012 to between 60-70 seats according to exit polls.

As per exit polls, the Congress or AAP will take Punjab, the BJP is leading - by a lot - in Uttar Pradesh, and the BJP or the Congress will take Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur.

Pretty impressive showing by the BJP which didn't project chief ministerial candidates in any of the states it contested - except for maybe in Goa.

Exit poll results
Uttar Pradesh is staring at the prospect of a hung Assembly, as most exit polls predict huge gains here for the BJP but not an outright majority needed to form the government.

In Punjab, the race between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is too close to call.

Three exit polls give the BJP a clear majority in the 70-member Uttarakhand assembly.

The CVoter survey predicted that the BJP will emerge as the largest single party in Manipur, dethroning the Congress for the first time in 15 years. On the other hand, the Axis exit poll gives Congress the lead in the state, with a cautious prediction that it will remain in power.

The CVoter exit poll predicts a close-fought battle between the Congress and the BJP to gain control of Goa, with both parties unlikely to gain a clear majority in the 40-member state assembly.