No clear winner after Round 1
All exit polls but one on Tuesday evening predicted a reduced tally for the BJP in the 140 constituencies that voted in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The forecast appeared to have rattled the BJP, as also the prediction that the Congress and its allies could add to their 1999 numbers.
All exit polls but one on Tuesday evening predicted a reduced tally for the BJP in the 140 constituencies that voted in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The forecast appeared to have rattled the BJP, as also the prediction that the Congress and its allies could add to their 1999 numbers.
An estimated 50-55 per cent cast their votes, the Election Commission (EC) said. This estimate was likely to be revised upwards in the next 24 hours, officials said.
Widely varying poll results aired by Sahara, Star, Aaj Tak and Zee predicted the NDA could get between 69 and 93 seats, the Congress and allies between 41 and 55 seats and others between three and 22 seats. In 1999, the NDA won 88 of the 140, the Congress had 44, and others eight.
Despite the variations in the predictions, the exit poll results appeared to both mirror and provoke anxiety in the BJP over its own assessment of election prospects. Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee will meet top aides on Wednesday, where the BJP's hitherto gung-ho mood is likely to be overtaken by a more sombre spirit of introspection. The party had been hoping to better its 1999 performance in the first phase, and has identified two reasons why things may not be going quite that way.
One, the stampede — and scandal — over saris in Lucknow seems to have become a bigger issue countrywide than the BJP had anticipated, especially among women voters. There was speculation in Bhopal that Vajpayee may file papers from there, in case the poll panel called off the election in Lucknow.
Two, the constant harping on Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins has partially eclipsed the original, positive, feelgood campaign, the BJP feels.
The party is scheduled to reply to the EC's notice on alleged violation of the model code of conduct by April 23, three days before the second round. The reply is expected to be top of the mind in Wednesday's meeting, along with ways in which to recharge the election campaign.