Exit Polls: Tight race in Chhattisgarh, Can Raman Singh retain crown?

Hindustan Times takes a look at what the exit polls predict for the two main parties in the fray in Chhattisgarh and whether Ajit Jogi will be able to play kingmaker in the state. The Chhattisgarh assembly has 90 seats, if you discount the one seat that goes to a nominee from the Anglo Indian community. In effect, 46 seats are needed to form the government. The 2013 assembly elections saw the BJP bagging 49 seats. The Congress won 39 seats. Mayawati's BSP clinched one seat.The CSDS-ABP News poll suggests a fourth straight term for Raman Singh. It predicts a giant share of 52 seats in the 90 member assembly for the saffron party. In 2013, BJP had managed to grab 49 seats. The survey predicts 35 seats for Congress and 3 seats for others. India TV also predicts an edge for the BJP giving it 42-50 seats. The survey gives 32-28 seats to Congress, 6-8 seats for Jogi-BSP alliance and 1-3 seats to others. CVOTER-Republic TV however predicts a closer race. It gives the party 35-43 seats, 40-50 seats to the Congress and 3-7 seats to the Jogi-BSP alliance. However, Axis My India and India Today have stuck their neck out to predict a sweep for the Congress in Chhattisgarh, giving it 55-65 seats in the 90 member assembly. The survey gives 21-31 seats to BJP, a vastly reduced number from its 2013 seats.