Few days ahead of the beginning of forthcoming assembly elections in the five poll bound states, an opinion poll conducted by C-Voter has predicted a huge majority for the Congress in Rajasthan and a considerable lead in Madhya Pradesh. In Rajasthan it is expected to win around 145 seats.
The opinion poll however has not shown any party with majority seats in Mizoram and Chhattisgarh.
The poll survey of November week-2 done for ABP News and Republic TV has a total sample size of 67,848 for five states, with 13,377 in Rajasthan, 25,745 in Madhya Pradesh and 13,911 in Chhattisgarh, 13,624 in Telangana and 1191 in Mizoram.
The Center For Voting Opinions and Trends in Election Research (C-Voter), in its November (week 2) poll has also projected a clear majority of 64 seats to the Congress-TDP combine in Telangana and a very close fight in Chhattisgarh with a slender edge for the BJP.
In Rajasthasn where the incumbent BJP is facing the ire of people, the opinion poll gave the party only 45 seats with 39.7 per cent vote share, against 47.9 per cent of the opposition Congress.
While in Madhya Pradesh, Congress is likely to come back to power after a gap of 15 years by gaining a 42.3 per cent vote share. In the 230 constituencies assembly the BJP is said to win 107 seats with Congress gaining a little more at 116 seats. The vote share of BJP is projected to be at 41.5 per cent while the Congress is likely to garner 42.3 percent of vote share.
In Telangana where the Congress party is contesting the election in alliance with TJS and TDP the survey has predicted a clear majority of 64 seats. According to Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, the party has decided to contest 94 seats of which the TDP (Telangana) will contest on 14 seats, while TJS has been offered eight seats and CPI three seats.
The poll survey has not shown a clear majority to any party in Mizoram, but it suggested that Mizo National Front will be leading with 17 seats, followed by the Congress with 12 seats and Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) with nine seats.
In Chhattisgarh the survey suggested a close fight between BJP and Congress with 41 seats to the Congress and 43 seats to BJP. The congress’ vote share is said to be at 42.2 per cent while BJP is projected to get a slightly lower 41.6 per cent vote share.
Reacting to the C-voter survey, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the party was going to win the polls in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and also in Telangana. “We hope to cross the two-thirds mark in Rajasthan and hope to get close to 140 seats in Madhya Pradesh and over 50-mark in Chhattisgarh. The coalition of Congress will romp home confidently, trouncing the BJP stooge TRS in Telangana. Congress will also retain Mizoram,” he said.
However, BJP was not too affirmative of the poll survey. BJP spokesperson Bizay Sonkar Shastri said the BJP was heading for a “big victory” in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, and that the campaign by “our magic man”, a reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would give a further boost to the party’s prospects.
Polls in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana will be held between November 12 and December 7. Counting of votes will be taken up together in all the five states on December 11.