Agartala, Feb 27, 2023, TRIPURA TIMES Desk
Agartala, Feb 27: The exit polls released by various agencies in national media on Monday evening predicted that BJP would retain its power in Tripura with a thumping majority.
As per the exit polls, Pradyot Kishore Debbarma-led Tipra Motha is likely to emerge as the main opposition party while the Congress and CPM parties would fail to reap much benefit from the alliance.
There are 60 assembly constituencies in Tripura and 31 is the magic figure. As soon as the voting was over on February 16 last, a strong speculation gripped the Left and Congress supporters that the two-party alliance would succeed to oust BJP from power. But the exit poll prediction appeared completely different.
As per the India Today- Axis My India’s exit polls, BJP may get 36-45 seats followed by Left (6-11), Tipra Motha (9-16) and Congress (0). Jan Ki Baat predicted that BJP would win 29-40 seats while Left may get 9-16 seats, Tipra Motha 10-14 seats and Congress 0 seat.
The exit polls of Times Now- ETG Research indicated BJP’s victory in 21-27 seats, Left’s win in 18-24 seats and Tipra Motha’s win in 12-17 seats. Another exit polls report by Zee News- Matrize claimed that BJP may secure 29-36 seats, Left 13-21 seats, Tipra Motha 11-16 seats and Congress 0.
PRACCIS, a Delhi based research organization, in collaboration with MBB University, Tripura also released exit polls projecting 34-39 seats to BJP followed by CPM-Congress alliance (9-14) and Tipra Motha (11-16).
This exit polls showed that BJP’s vote share would stand at 49 percent followed by IPFT (0.8 per cent), CPM-Congress Alliance (29.17 per cent), Tipra Motha (16.37 per cent), TMC (0.9 per cent), Independent (2.26 per cent) and NOTA (1.5 per cent).
According to PRACCIS findings, in a major shift from the past, the voting pattern this time is along the ethnic lines. While an overwhelming section of tribals are voting for the local tribal party TIPRA MOTHA, led by the royal scion, Pradyot Manikya Debbarma, the non-Tribals are veering decisively behind the incumbent BJP.
The findings also said, “the alliance between erstwhile antagonistic parties, the CPM and the Congress doesn’t seem to work on ground as the remaining Congress voters still have a negative memory of the CPM rule wherein they faced intense violence and discrimination in everyday life. The people on the ground saw the alliance more as a coming together of some leaders rather than the respective voters. In nutshell, the alliance mathematics lacks chemistry.”
An aggregate of the exit polls of various agencies is a clear indication that BJP would retain its power in the state. However, sometimes the exit polls are not similar with the election results.
Tripura witnessed a multi-cornered poll battle on February 16 last, with around 90 per cent turnout. The state has set an example of free, fair and peaceful elections this time. The counting of votes is due on March 2 next. All 259 candidates including 30 women are hopeful of their victory. (With agency inputs)