IndiaToday AxisPoll: Barring Uttar Pradesh, Muslim voters preferred to vote for Congress in Hindi belt

Now that the elections have concluded, and the results are just hours away, the exit polls have made it clear that the BJP-led NDA is all set to form the government again.

Issues of the Hindu-Muslim polarisation were highlighted the most in the recent years, but have they been translated to votes this time?

Analysing the India Today-Axis My India exit poll data, Data Intelligence Unit (DIU) has found that barring Uttar Pradesh, maximum Muslim voters preferred to vote for the Congress party.

WHICH STATES' MUSLIMS MOST LOYAL TO CONGRESS?

According to the exit poll data, maximum Muslim voters in Uttarakhand and Rajasthan opted for the Congress party.

Around 88 per cent of the Muslim voters voted for the Congress Party.

Following the two states, Haryana has 83 per cent Muslims voting for the Congress. 82 per cent voters in Madhya Pradesh opted for the INC+ whereas 80 per cent Muslims in Jharkhand voted for the INC+.

Even in Bihar, the percentage of Muslim voters was high. Around 79 per cent Muslim voters in Bihar opted for the INC. In Delhi, the INC had a lower Muslim vote base, where 69 per cent Muslims opted for it.

WHAT'S UP WITH UP?

Among all the Hindi heartland states, Uttar Pradesh didn't favour the INC. It cost the grand old party for not joining the SP-BSP alliance as it chose to contest alone. The INC was eyeing on the Muslim votes, however, facts tell a different story.

According to the exit poll figures, the Congress party could fetch only 14 per cent of the Muslim voters here. 76 per cent Muslim voters opted for the SP-BSP alliance this time.

DISTANCE FROM THE BJP

While it was clear that the Muslim voters were united to vote for the INC+ in the Hindi heartland states, the BJP didn't receive even 15 per cent of the Muslim votes in any of these states.

In Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand 14 per cent Muslims preferred to vote the BJP+.

13 per cent Muslim voters in Haryana voted for the BJP.

The percentage of Muslim voters for INC was lower in Delhi, however, the BJP didn't receive much of the Muslim votes either. The Aam Aadmi Party received 21 per cent Muslim votes in the state, only 10 per cent Muslim voters opted for the BJP.

Recently, Delhi CM and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal had sparked a controversy when he said that Muslim voters took a last minute decision to vote for the Congress.

Uttarakhand (9), Rajasthan (9) and Uttar Pradesh were the states where the percentage of Muslims opting for the BJP didn't even cross 10 per cent.