Exit polls indicate AAP victory in Punjab | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The slogan ‘Ek mauka Kejriwal nu’ (one chance to Kejriwal) seems to soundly resonated among the people of Punjab, if the exit polls telecast by leading TV channels are to be believed, as most of them predicted huge victories for the party in the fiercely contested state assembly polls.
The Times Now-Veto exit poll predicted that the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP would win 70 seats while the Congress would manage a paltry 22 closely followed by the Shiromani Akali Dal that would bag 19 seats. The BJP alliance, which contested without Akali support, would get 5 and others one, the poll predicted.
The Punjab assembly has 77 seats.
A similar prediction was made by the India Today-Axis poll where AAP with a vote share of 41 % would get (76-90) seats while Congress would get 19-31, SAD 7-11 and BJP alliance 1 to 4 seats.
Today’s Chanakya went even further predicting a brute majority of 117 seats for AAP with the remaining 17 seats divided among the other three formations.

However, a poll conducted by ground zero research for India TV made a different prediction. It suggested a hung house where, the Congress would get 49 to 59 seats while the AAP would be the second largest unit with 27 to 37 seats. The poll put Akalis third and the BJP led formation at the fourth place.

However, most other polls showed that AAP’s chief ministerial face Bhagwant Mann may get to occupy the office that is presently run by chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi.
First full state to be ruled by AAP
The victory, if the exit polls are correct, would mean that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that has been touting its Delhi model gets to implement it in a major state. Presently, it rules Delhi where law and order and several other important areas are in the domain of the Centre. The AAP has talked about social welfare measures, improving schools and hospitals and it would be facing high expectations from people who choose them over traditional powerhouses.
Punjab had faced issues related to prevalence of drugs, poor state of education, health facilities, sacrilege and farming. The state’s finances are not in the best shape and any party that forms government will have its task cut out.
Why the margin of victory matters
While some polls predict high numbers for AAP, there are others that predicted a stronger opposition. In the 117-member assembly, 58 or above gives any party a clear majority. Being a rather new entity, if AAP barely scrapes through, it may have to work hard to keep its flock together as many of them are entrants from other parties. Bigger numbers, however, may ensure that that Bhagwant Mann has the comfort of numbers.
Victory in defeat for Captain
Punjab politics was in a state of tumult and its results will also impact the fortunes of other major players. The Congress, according to exit polls, would turn out to be a big loser. The decision to let former chief minister Amarinder Singh leave the party months ahead of polls would prove to have backfired.
The captain was never in a position to win but according to exit polls, the Congress also lost in his absence.
Senior leaders like Navjot Singh Sidhu and Charanjit Singh Channi would have to sit in opposition benches along with Sukhbir Singh Badal of the Akali Dal, provided they all win their seats.
The BJP will get the first chance to act the opposition without Akali stewardship.