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Manickam Tagore Dismisses Exit Polls, Urges Wait for Counting Day

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has dismissed the credibility of exit polls and urged all to wait for the real counting on May 4. His remarks come amid a sharply divided exit poll landscape in Tamil Nadu, with different agencies projecting contrasting outcomes. The state is witnessing a three-cornered fight involving the DMK-led alliance, AIADMK-BJP combine, and actor Vijay's TVK. Meanwhile, repolling is underway in 15 polling stations in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district.

Key Points: Manickam Tagore Rejects Exit Polls, Awaits Counting Day

  • Manickam Tagore rejects exit polls
  • Urges wait for counting day on May 4
  • Tamil Nadu sees divided exit poll projections
  • DMK, AIADMK, TVK in three-cornered fight
  • Repolling in 15 West Bengal booths underway
2 min read

'I don't believe in exit polls,' says Manickam Tagore; urges all to wait for counting day

Congress MP Manickam Tagore dismisses exit poll credibility, urges patience until counting day on May 4. Tamil Nadu sees divided projections.

"I don't believe in exit polls. Let us wait for the real counting on the 4th. - Manickam Tagore"

New Delhi, May 2

Dismissing the credibility of exit polls, Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Saturday said the actual mandate of the people will only be clear on counting day.

"I don't believe in exit polls. Let us wait for the real counting on the 4th. People have already decided. People have given a verdict. That has to be read out also, let us wait for another 48 hours, people's mandate should not be manipulated..." he told IANS.

His remarks come amid a sharply divided exit poll landscape in Tamil Nadu, where different agencies have projected contrasting outcomes for the major political players.

The contest in the state is seen as a three-cornered fight involving the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in alliance with the BJP, and actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Among the projections, the Axis My India survey has drawn attention by predicting a surprise debut victory for TVK with 98 to 120 seats. It places the DMK in the range of 92 to 110 seats, while the AIADMK is projected to secure between 22 and 32 seats, underlining the unusually fragmented nature of predictions this election.

Voting in Tamil Nadu was held on April 24, with the state recording a high voter turnout of 85.13 per cent. The DMK centred its campaign on its Dravidian Model of governance and welfare initiatives, while the AIADMK focussed on promises of corruption-free governance and an end to what it described as "one family rule".

Meanwhile, in West Bengal, Assembly elections were conducted in two phases on April 24 and April 29, with counting for both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal scheduled for May 4.

Repolling is underway on Saturday in 15 polling stations across South 24 Parganas district, including 11 booths in Magrahat Paschim and four in Diamond Harbour Assembly constituencies.

Voting began at 7 A.M. and will continue till 6 P.M., with enhanced security arrangements in place. Voters in the Diamond Harbour area have expressed mixed reactions but have largely acknowledged improved arrangements and tighter security during the repoll process.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Respectfully, sir, but dismissing all exit polls outright seems a bit too convenient. While I agree they're not always accurate, they serve as a barometer of public sentiment. The fact that different agencies show such wildly different results for Tamil Nadu actually makes me more curious about the real mandate. But yes, let's wait for May 4th. The people have spoken, and the ballot boxes will reveal the truth. 🙏
A
Arjun K
Honestly, the Axis My India projection about TVK winning 98-120 seats seems like a fantasy. Vijay is popular, no doubt, but building a party from scratch and winning that many seats in Tamil Nadu's complex political landscape? I'll believe it when I see it on counting day. The DMK and AIADMK have deep roots, and first-time parties rarely perform that well. Let's see what May 4th brings. 🤔
M
Michael C
I'm not Indian, but I've been following Tamil Nadu politics for years. This election is genuinely fascinating—the DMK's welfare model, AIADMK's anti-corruption stance, and TVK's fresh appeal. The exit poll chaos just shows how unpredictable the state is. Tagore's caution is wise, but I hope the final results are accepted by all parties. Democracy works best when we respect the verdict, whatever it may be.
V
Vikram M
My only concern is that every election, politicians dismiss exit polls before counting, and then if results are close, they start alleging manipulation. Let's just focus on the facts: 85% voter turnout shows people were engaged. The repoll in 15 booths in South 24 Parganas is also noteworthy—hope those votes are counted fairly too. Transparency is key for public trust. 👍

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