West Bengal Exit Poll: Here's what pollsters predicted for 2021 assembly elections
West Bengal Exit Poll: The exit poll predictions are based on voter feedback collected by survey agencies after polling. Exit polls aim to reflect public sentiment well before official results, though their accuracy has often been questioned.
West Bengal Exit Poll: The high-stakes West Bengal election has come to an end. This marks the end of present election cycle.
In West Bengal the second phase of voting for 142 seats was held today. The assembly elections in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry were held earlier this month. The results of all these five assembly elections will be declared on 4 May.
Before the official results are out, pollsters release exit polls. When will the exit poll results for the West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assembly elections 2026 be declared?
As per Election Commission guidelines, all media platforms are barred from publishing or broadcasting any election-related content before the last vote is polled today.
What did Election Commission say about exit polls?
The Election Commission in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-Section 1 of Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and having regard to the provisions of sub-Section (2) of the said Act, has notified that the conduct and dissemination of exit polls shall be prohibited from 7 am on 9 April (Thursday) till 6.30 pm on 29 April, covering the voting period across five assembly elections. The EC warned that any violation could invite legal action, including jail time or fines.
This means the exit poll results for West Bengal, Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Kerala will be out on Wednesday, 29 April, after 6:30 pm.
Any person who contravenes the provisions of Section 126A shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with a fine or with both, as per the law.
The exit poll predictions are based on voter feedback collected by survey agencies after polling. While the idea behind exit polls is to reflect public sentiment well before the actual results are announced, their accuracy has faced scrutiny in the past.
- Exit polls are based on voter feedback collected after polling.
- The accuracy of exit polls has faced scrutiny in past elections.
- Legal restrictions are in place regarding the publication of exit poll results during the voting period.
Last time, the exit polls for these five assembly elections were released on 29 April 2021, the day of the last phase of voting in that election cycle.
What did exit polls predict in 2021 for West Bengal?
In 2021, exit polls predicted a close fight between the TMC and the BJP in Bengal. The poll of polls predicted that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress party would win 156 of the state's 292 seats that went to polls and that the BJP would score a strong 121 seats.
But eventually, the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC won the election with a landslide, winning 215 seats out of the 292 polled. The BJP won 77 seats, emerging as the principal opposition party in the West Bengal assembly for the first time.
About the Author
Gulam Jeelani is Political Desk Editor at LiveMint with over 16 years of experience covering national and international politics. Based in New Delhi, Jeelani delivers impactful political narratives through breaking stories, in-depth interviews, and analytical pieces at LiveMint since February 2024. The expertise in video production fuels his current responsibilities, which include curating content and conducting video interviews for an expanding digital audience.<br><br> Jeelani also travels during elections and key political events and has covered assembly elections in key states apart from national elections. He has previously worked with The Pioneer, Network18, India Today, News9Plus and Hindustan Times.<br><br> Jeelani’s tenure at LiveMint and previous experience at print and digital newsrooms have honed his skills in creating compelling text and video stories, explainers, and analysis that resonate with a diverse viewership.<br><br> Before moving to New Delhi in 2015, Jeelani was based in Uttar Pradesh, where he worked for five years as a reporter. In 2018, Jeelani was one of the two Indian journalists selected for the Alfred Friendly Fellowship in the US. There, he attended training workshops on reporting and data journalism, and he was attached to the Minneapolis Star Tribune in Minnesota, where he worked as a reporter.<br><br> Jeelani is a Bachelor's in Chemistry and holds a Masters Degree in journalism and mass communication from Aligarh Muslim University. Outside work, he enjoys poetry, cricket and movies.
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