Exit polls predict saffron sweep in Red Tripura

AGARTALA: Going by exit poll predictions, BJP appears on track to complete the Left wipeout it began with the 2018 assembly election, wresting both Lok Sabha seats in the state from CPM.
The Left Front has had an iron grip on the two Lok Sabha seats of the state since 1996. BJP, on the other hand, has never won a Lok Sabha seat in the state. This time, Times Now-VMR and India Today-Axis have both predicted a clean BJP sweep in Tripura.Last year, BJP had pushed Left into a state of near-oblivion in state politics - going from 0 to 36 in one shot in the election to the 60-member assembly. This time, after an election marked by repeated allegations of voter intimidation and manipulation by BJP, the results could be a re-run of the assembly poll verdict.
CPM is biding its time, though. "I have studied all exit poll predictions and final Lok Sabha election results since 2004. These figures are always skewed in favour of the ruling dispensation. This one is not any different. Every time, the difference has been about 60-70 seats in favour of the opposition," former CPM minister and senior party leader Pabitra Kar said, supplanting his argument by citing the disparity between the Australian pre-poll assessment that indicated a Labour victory and the actual Liberal party victory.
"Besides," he added, "most groups are either managed by BJP leaders or funded by the party. We are confident Modi will not return at the Centre. BJP keeps saying 'Modi sarkar', not 'BJP sarkar'. It only shows how nervous they are about their lack of leadership."
Congress, which has not won a Lok Sabha seat in the state since 1991, agreed with CPM. "The exit poll did not reflect the true picture of people's mandate. There was a strong anti-Modi wave across the country. People have voted against BJP. But these exit polls seemed to be services provided to the ruling party, paid for. The exit poll has tried to gratify Team Modi shamelessly," spokesperson and vice-president of Congress's Tripura unit said.
Congress, which drew a blank in the assembly election last year, has been consolidating its base again with a change of guard and fresh strategy. Going by the exit polls, the party does not seem to have covered much ground yet.
BJP, meanwhile, placed its full faith in the exit polls, understandably. The war cry: "Ab ki baar, teen sho paar."
"People voted for BJP blindly, considering the good work it has done for them over the past five years. We are confident BJP will emerge as the single largest party to form the government ... Other parties who are dreaming about forming a government have not even zeroed in on their prime ministerial candidate. We believe the people of the country are not fools and would not have voted for them," spokesperson of the party's Tripura unit, Nabendu Bhattacharjee, said.