NDA for exit poll results after polling: Naidu

The BJP said that the NDA would initiate a proposal by consensus to ensure that outcome of exit polls were declared only after the completion of polls.

Observing that the exit polls have taken the country for "a ride" and caused an "unnecessary political instability", BJP on Friday said that the NDA would initiate a proposal by consensus to ensure that outcome of such polls were declared only after completion of final phase of voting.

"The recent exit polls, presented as people's verdict, which they are not (not), have taken the country for a ride causing huge loss to the (stock) markets and causing unnecessary fear of political instability", BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu said, demanding that exit polls conducted by various TV channels be accountable.

Naidu said NDA government on returning to power would initiate a proposal by consensus to ensure that results of exit polls are announced only after the last ballot is cast.

"Although I am not (not) damning the exit polls but I certainly want that they should be accountable", he told reporters here.

Making it clear that the BJP was not for a ban on exit polls, he said "We only want that their results should be telecast after the final phase of polling".

He alleged the polls had caused a loss of Rs 50,000 crore to the markets in two days. "Who will take the responsibility for this loss?", Naidu asked.

"We have seen exit polls go haywire in the past but they are still being presented as the final verdict of the people on the basis of which some political leaders start having dreams only to be shattered", the party president added.