BJP celebrated their victory projection in Exit poll

DAINIK NATION BUREAU

Most of the exit polls aired on several television channels on Thursdayevening, projecting a saffron sweep in Uttarakhand, have enthused the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and workers so much so that they in started distributing sweets among themselves and pasting  thanks-giving posters celebrating the  ‘impending’ victory on the walls of the residential buildings hours before the counting is  taken up.  Seemingly swept off their feet in a mood of triumphalism in the wake of the exit poll projections, they have forgotten the fact that the model code of conduct being still in force, the election commission might slap them with notice for their poster pasting spree.

Meanwhile, the Congress leaders, including the chief minister Harish Rawat , have  refused to lend credence to the  exit poll projections, saying that it is wise to wait till the counting. “With no   anti –incumbency wave blowing in the state, the celebration is premature. I would comment only after the counting is over,” said Rawat.

Political experts, however, say that despite anti- incumbency having influenced the voting, the figures of 53 and 15 going to the BJP and the Congress respectively as shown by some agencies seem grossly   exaggerated. “The ground reality says that the two parties are neck and neck in at least 28 out of   the 70 seats up for grabs in Uttarakhand. It seems fantastic that the BJP would sweep riding on the crest of the perceived Modi wave, taking its tally to over 50 seats,” said one of the political commentators.

But the state BJP leaders are confident that the result would not be much different from what most of the exit polls projected-the tally crossing the threshold of fifty.  Talking to the media persons on Friday, state BJP spokesperson Vijay Goel said that it would spring no surprise if things finally unfolded this way on Saturday.  “The party registered leads in as many as 53 Assembly segments during the 2014 general election. With the Modi factor still as strong as it was then, it would be no surprise if the trend repeats this time too,” he said.

He further said that if the party wins the credit would definitely go to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “He has not just vowed to free the people from the  scourge of the corrupt Harish Rawat government but also has assured to revamp the Himalayan state developmentally through direct monitoring of all the projects to be lined up for the state,” he said.

Goel said that the CM had conceded defeat a day after the poling when he hinted at stitching an alliance with the UKD, BSP and independents in the post-counting scenario. “However, Harish Rawat being a die-hard punter, he would not acknowledge defeat until he loses everything in the sweepstakes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Friday being the last working day of the week at the secretariat, the officers, visibly in  a relaxed mood,  were  found engaged in day-long animated discussion and debate over whether the exit poll projection would repeat on the ground on Saturday.