The exit poll numbers are unbelievable. There’s no reason to suggest the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance should lose a single of the 543 seats in the Lok Sabha.
It is likely that 23 May will prove the exit polls wrong — after all, they have mostly been wrong over the years. In 2014, they suggested the NDA was coming to power but could not foresee the BJP winning a majority on its own. The pattern may well be repeated.
The modest exit polls foresee the NDA winning anywhere between 277 and 352 seats. As for the BJP itself, the range is between 227 and 291 seats. Only two exit polls have suggested that the BJP could win more than its 2014 tally of 282 seats.
Why should the BJP or its allies lose a single seat? The way things are, they should be winning every single seat in India.
Also read: Exit polls make it clear SP-BSP alliance has failed to smash BJP: Yogendra Yadav
The Congress party announced in advance that it was only seeking to triple its 2014 numbers, from 44 to 132, which won’t even be half of the majority mark, which is 272. The party’s data analyst, Praveen Chakravarty said this, and then Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath repeated it. If the BJP’s main opponent publicly says it is not even trying to win enough seats necessary to lead a coalition government, why should the BJP and its allies lose a single seat?
Narendra Modi has been gifted the poorest opposition possible. It can’t come together and form coalitions even when it can see it is going to get wiped out. It can’t come up with an election promise that would be believed and bought by the people. It can’t do a campaign on what everyone knew was the greatest issue before the people – unemployment. Worst of all, the opposition is so poor it doesn’t have one leader who looks prime ministerial, whom the people of India would want to see as their PM.
The opposition didn’t even try to win this election. In 2014, there was at least an Aam Aadmi Arvind Kejriwal fighting in Varanasi. This time, the opposition couldn’t even put up a star candidate against Modi in Varanasi. Modi didn’t even go to Varanasi after filing his nomination papers. The Congress suggested it is not up for the fighting after Priyanka Gandhi said she was considering it. The Samajwadi Party didn’t even put up their half-strong local candidate. The walkover in Varanasi is symbolic of the walkover Modi got this election across India.
It is strange, then, that even the most optimistic exit poll (Axis MyIndia) sees the NDA losing 177 of 542 seats. What’s wrong with the people in these 177 constituencies? How could they want Rahul Gandhi as PM? Or do they want an unstable coalition that makes India weak, a government that can’t take strong decisions like demonetising 86 per cent of the currency overnight on a whim?
Also read: PM Modi is so confident of victory that he’s already scheduled Mann Ki Baat 2.0
To be fair to opposition leaders, some say it’s not all their fault. Modi is the master of propaganda, they say. Agreed. Switch on the TV and you will only see NaMo and then there’s a NaMo TV to switch to when the ‘news’ channels are showing ads. On WhatsApp and newspapers, on outdoor media and train tickets, Modi is everywhere.
This complete and total bombardment of the Indian mind with the visage of Narendra Damodardas Modi makes sure people think there is no one but Modi. In a country of 1.3 billion people, aur hai kaun? Wonder how the trains ever ran, how the wars were ever fought, how the roads were ever built before Modi became prime minister. That is how Modi propaganda makes people think. Which is why one wonders, why should Modi be losing a single seat?
On those approximately 177 seats that the Axis MyIndia exit poll found the NDA losing, one wonders if the opposition had a lot of money. After all, Modi has outmatched the opposition in resources several times over. Most of the opaque electoral bonds’ money goes to the BJP, which was the party with the deepest coffers even before electoral bonds. We are not suggesting the Yeddyurappa diaries have any truth in them and black money could be flowing in the BJP election campaigns. Meanwhile, the opposition finds itself facing tax raids before elections, their small change taken away. It is bizarre that such a financially weak opposition should be winning even a single seat.
The Election Commission has been so openly partisan, so afraid to censure Prime Minister Modi, that it appears there are two different model codes of conduct – one for the top BJP leaders, and the other for the rest of the politicians. With the EC being so kind to Modi, he knows he can get away with anything. And he does. Which is why one wonders why Modi should not win all 542 seats. If the umpire looks away when you cheat, why should you lose a single wicket?
Also read: Modi’s second term needs to be bolder than his first
Doubt is human nature. Sometimes people wonder if Narendra Modi is really the best deal for them. They wonder if they should try another leader, if there’s one. Could it be that Rahul Gandhi is not as bad? Usually, the opposition will do something stupid, like Rahul Gandhi running away for a Europe vacation, just when people are beginning to have doubts about Modi. No problem, there’s fake news for the doubtful Modi supporter. Just feed them fiction and they’ll say Rahul Gandhi thinks potatoes can be turned into gold. Feed them fiction and they’ll think demonetisation was a great success.
Which is why one wonders how the BJP is losing a single seat. Surely, the exit polls are playing it safe.
It is human nature to see some people as their own and some as enemies. The BJP has played on this forever. As Amit Shah threatened to implement the NRC across India, he stoked the fear of, basically, expelling millions of Muslims. By making Hindus see Muslims as their enemies, the BJP tries to make people forget caste and economy, regional aspirations and anti-incumbency. Which is why one wonders why the exit polls are so modest. In a country with 79 per cent Hindus, how could the BJP lose any seat? Given that Hindutva majoritarianism has become so mainstream that a Godse-loving terror accused can be given a ticket, why do we still have any Hindu not voting for the BJP?
The exit polls cannot be believed. The Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance must be all set to win 542 of 542 seats, a first in Indian history. Anything less than 542 will be a defeat for Modi.
As for that cancelled poll in Vellore, it was cancelled because too much money was flowing into the seat. When it is held again, surely money won’t be a problem for the NDA.
It is very good of ThePrint to encourage schoolchildren to write for them. This young child is a surprisingly good polemicist at a time when his classmates are still learning basic composition.
Wait, what? Shivam Vij is a man in his mid-30’s?
Oh… oh dear.
If Print goes bankrupt, they simply deserve it. How can an editorial board allow this maniac to write an article like this and how was it even approved. This writer Shivam Vij is seriously in depression and I would not be surprised if I see him taking his life in the years to come. I can understand , that the Print can’t hire qualified writers who knows a thing or two about the things they are writing. But how the hell on earth can you allow a depressed maniac to write a cheap rant without substance or understanding. Print media is dying because we refuse to subscribe or pay you to know your opinions. We want facts.
This isn’t a news article…… sounds more like a frustrated facebook post. Go back and study journalism again
The columnist’s attempt at satire and humor fall very short and after a while the article seems more of rant than a well-researched piece. I fail to see the columnists main idea – Is he complaining about the opposition for being weak or is he accusing the government of being stronger than opposition. Its like blaming the strong Indian batting line up of having good players for winning a match against a weak team.
I urge the columnist to be more clear in his articles and voice his opinion more clearly backed up by facts rather than pointless allegations.
This one did not make me laugh or worried. I was just confused 🙁
A very humorous article. It speaks about truth in humorous way. I salute to the author’s sense of chaste humour.
How many rallies modi did to convert the votes into lotus. No mention of that. From morning till night non stop rallies. I could observe modi’s voice was not coming out properly also. But you people have undermined his hardwork. You people are so driven with modi hate that today modi hate is the only factor that defines you. Nothing better can come from a hate preacher. By the way there were 542 seats.
The media is completely polarized. Some folks like this author are living in ivory tower and think they know India. Disparaging a PM who is winning more than 50% of votes in a democracy and passing judgement on a government institution who has been in business of conduction elections for world’s biggest democracy in last 70+ years. The author of this article thinks she knows the best. I pity her.
I was simply searching for the dislike button which is not here, unfortunately. Anybody nowadays considering them as journalist which knowing ABC of journalism.
When a Stomach burn happens and the person is maniac enough to express that burn through words, this is what happens. Calling it crass will not do justice to the attempted sarcasm. Why should the author be denied a Pulitzer? After all, ThePrint had given him (or is it her?) a platform to vomit the acerbic contents caused by indigestion, most likely triggered by ‘Modi-fied’ exit polls. Anyway, if a lack of intellectual or moral strength to withstand the right wing for five more years is the author’s primary problem, he can take solace from the fact that Rahulji will give him August company in that!
Absurd comment from Indian wise journalist which one sided. If you are true journalist instead of showing sarcacism you should have written a comparison between the various leaders such Rahul Gandhi, Mayawati, Akhilesh and Thier credentials of administrative powers. All these leaders have no agenda for development of our nation but only Modi hatao. You being a journalist have not done justice to your profession by giving sarcastic opinion about one man Mr Modi. Shame on you
Such a Looser the writer is. Its the frustrated Media.
My dear friend, you probably don’t understand that the journalist like you behaved similar to opposition whom you accuse of not being competent enough. Driven by hate, devoured of facts, no actual data to show, no real issues to fight on. Believe me, the unemployment you considered main trump card for opposition was a non starter. All graduates I know, got jobs, all those who wanted to go for higher studies went for it. The government spend in infrastructure was so huge and till lowest level of financial ladder of the society got benefits. Do you know just because the toad is good and traffic is good, my car runs 150 kms more per tank full. I consider this a saving and increase in income. Problem with you guys is that instead of driven by mind, your are allowing your hate filled heart to rule. And if Modi is gifted with weakest opposition (I agree when you have opponents like Rahul and Kejri, you are bound to win), he is gifted with weakest and most hate filled media person too.
You are definitely caught in the wrong job! You should try joining a PR firm.
The mask of dispassionate journalism of Padmabhusan Mr.Shekhar Gupta is falling apart. How come this article can go through a decent editorial board ? Or Mr.Vij has been used as the Digvijay Singh of ThePrint to propagate the frustrated state of mind of leadership team…
Get well soon from depression. The print and Mr. Big.
Poor biased unprofessional journalist talking like a losing politicians
मोदी १७७ सीटे इसलिये हार रहा है कि आप जेसी नकारात्मक सोच वाले अभी भी काफी संख्या मे है जिनका हिसाब ठीक रहना चाहिए चाहे कुनबा डुब जाये। निर्वाचन अधिकारी आपका मताधिकार वापस नही ले सकता और नही मोदीजी।
Burn burn burning like a ghostrider ?
Dear Shivam vij , u r a hardcore Modi hater & i am feeling very happy seeing ur bloody frustration after the exit polls confirmed NDA will thrash ur lovely leftist parties,this article certainly proves that beyond doubt !!!!!?
What an utterly crass article! Full of twisted facts, half-truths, innuendos and blatant lies! Disgusting. Do these journos have slightest self-respect? Can’t they even criticize Modi with proper facts and figures without resorting to lies and innuendo? And what an absurd assertion that even loss of a single seat for BJP will be a deemed defeat for Modi! Have these journos taken similar line of argument for previous governments? Cong has ruled India for so long and by a similar argument should not have lost in 2014. These articles, journos and the media employing them are a blot on India. Just shows how poor media is in terms of quality here, when it enjoys a lot of operational freedom.
@SN — you probably did not appreciate the sarcasm in this article. You might not agree with the real message from the author that is that Modi has done so many wrongs (his words not mine) but is winning handsomely inspite of this. He is blaming the opposition to have not offered any fight and is making a sarcastic point that given such a weak opposition Modi winning should not be a surprise at all. If you understand hindi — this article is vyang — vyang samajhte hai aap?
When you write an article for public viewing in popular media, you should not write nonsense. No one on earth with some sense will agree with anything you have written. Do you think most Indians are fools and only you are a big intellectual? Only idiots think like that.
Actually, yes. We do think most bhakts are imbeciles, and you’re a pretty good example. Please take down a dictionary and look under ‘irony’.
You are a frustrated pidi and you should look in the dictionary for the most appropriate word aptly suiting you PIMP
Dear Shivam Vij,
For decades, Indians were fed the images of the scions of the Nehru family till we were zoned out. Add to this visual treat the melodious repetition of their names on every conceivable government public scheme or institution, it was a sensile smorgasbord of the inimitable names and images of the Nehru Gandhy dynasty.
Right now, for example, we are being treated to haloed and divine visuals of the next in line for the kingship..the baby Vadras. Such a lovely treat. Their little cutesy pie humdrum visits, their faces and which parts look like great grandma or great great grandpa, how valiant they are in helping Rahul mama at a young age in defending India against the barbaric hordes…I am waiting with bated breath for the Vadrayana to start being composed
I know it can bother a Vadrayana devotee to have anyone else compete with your dynastic gods…but Shivam..its a free market. We Indians like the competition that the Nehru scions are facing.
Creating jobs are not easy especially in the face of media reports that we are churning out unemployable graduates year after year. So far all the parties including modi led bjp have promised freebies. The very promise of freebies is an admission of inability to create jobs. Even in democracies the people’s choice is not necessarily informed. This is clearly established by the fact that millions of people still flock to parties like Congress, shiv Sena, SP, TMC, DMK etc knowing fully well that they have no hope of making it to the top. Stalin succeeds karunanidhi, Aditya succeeds uddhav and so on. So bjp or nda is only an accidental choice of the moment.
Serious meltdown of a darbari journalist
Mr.Vij, its better you keep your mouth shut and stay a fool, rather than open it up and remove all doubt.
By writing such articles and making such bizzare statements both the opposition and biased writers like you, are nothing better than standing naked in the center of a stadium with your eyes shut and be like no one saw me!
Please dont bring up such desperate stuff which make zero sense.
You are in reality making a self goal!
Conversely, anything more than 44 will be a huge morale boosting win for Mr Gandhi – given the political maturity he has displayed it definitely will be victory of sorts!
Modiphobia has struck the writer
This is hilarious. Only a fool can take this seriously.
Sir i am really sorry anf felling pitty for u what mr Modi has done to u all lutyens media u guys relly have some moral or just want to pour ur shit on mr modi he is above all that kuch ukar nahi pahao gaye the countrymen comes to know u and u will all die by abusing him but he will rise because for him country is first i knew that for a intellectual person like u my saying doesnt matter but still sometime its necessary to give answer.
I think you are criticizing yourself as a part of MEDIA…. SHAMEFUL
I think the writer is Mentally Unfit.. Kindly Send to AGRA for Mental Repairing (After 23rd of MAY)…..
Foolish. Non- Hopeful THE WIRE as a Good News Entity…
This article is from another planet only I guess such a fake lie and what not article the mental hospital is ready for this author
Don’t worry vij ask your masters to try next time
I am very happy to see anti Hindu “the print” in frustrated ??????
GANDHI CONGRESS PVT LTD MUKT BHARAT
Jali na …..jali na bhai teri…..sala logic me to tu pappu se bhi aage nikal gaya……jabtak tum jaise bewakuf log hai logo ke pass na chahate hue bhi modi ko vote dene ke alava koi option nahi hai
Mr.Shivam Vij usually writes well.I think today he is frustrated,disappointed and has lost control .Why should somebody talk of unemployment if majority of voters are unemployed and is struggling for lively hood They will vote against Govt.without any reminder/prompting.Do a plumber,carpenter,electrician coming to our house and do the job come under “employed category”? Are thousands of Bengalis and youngsters from other state working in Kerala,Tamilnadu etc included in employed category.?
What are the proven charges against EC?.Even SC has not pointed out anything..
The article only shows that none of the writers are impartial.
Anger = Desperate, stupid article…. I saw Shivam’s anger fueled stupid rants last last evening on a news channel…. It is not PM Modi’s responsibility to give any relevance to any / all opposition political parties / politician in India….
As a leader of BJP / NDA & CEO of India, PM Modi / Amit Shah have shown how objectives are achieved. Who stops Rahul & gangs to do the same…. Media hostility towards PM Modi is overt & exposed …. So peddled Lies about media control by PM & team don’t work these days….
enjoy your crying …. 5 more years to Modi sarkaar…. & We Indians will bring him back in 2024…. Many surprises in store for crony politicians & their peddler journalists….!!
Writer is sick. Needs to be hospitalised
A sick mind can’t deliver facts.
Jali jali phir jali jali , jali kisiki **** jali.. burnol medicine shop m shortage ho Gaya h, bahar se import karna padega, naito make in India ke tahad har election ke pehle sufficient burnol supply election commission ke taraf se free distribution karna hoga..??
Re….Pagla gaya hai ka re ?? Arre BUDBAK !! This much Ganza smoking will irreparably damage your health.
Buckle up, as the ride for next five years is gonna be quite roller-coaster for you. If you dissolve your brain in this heavy amount of Ganza…what will you dwell upon in next many many years..
You will have a long life..sulking under the Dharmik rule of Modi Government.
Don’t survive on Ganza alone…apply copious amounts of Burnol. That may help. 😉 😉