These estimates will be released after 6:30 pm, in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Election Commission of India.
History has shown that exit polls can be misleading, with their forecasts often diverging from actual outcomes. While they shape early narratives, several elections have demonstrated that the final verdict can sharply contradict projections.
Haryana 2024: Wave that never was
In the 2024 Haryana Legislative Assembly election, exit polls almost unanimously predicted a strong Congress return, with several surveys projecting a comfortable majority and describing the trend as a “wave”. Estimates from major agencies consistently placed Congress well ahead of the BJP.
The results, however, told a very different story. The BJP not only held its ground but emerged ahead, exposing a complete misread of voter sentiment. The uniformity of the error across pollsters made Haryana one of the starkest recent examples of exit poll failure.
Lok Sabha 2024: ‘400-paar’ that fell short
Ahead of the 2024 Indian general election, exit polls set expectations sky-high, with many projecting a landslide for the NDA and some even forecasting a “400-paar” outcome. These projections shaped political messaging and market sentiment in the run-up to counting day.
The actual results diverged sharply. The NDA finished with 293 seats, while the BJP at 240 fell short of a majority on its own. The INDIA bloc’s tally of 235 seats further underscored the gap between projections and reality, making it one of the most high-profile polling misses in recent times.
Bihar 2025: Direction right, scale wrong
The 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly election illustrated a recurring flaw in exit polls — capturing the direction but missing the scale. Most pollsters predicted an NDA victory, but with a far narrower margin than what emerged on the ground.
Trends showed the alliance crossing the 200-seat mark, far exceeding projections. Even Axis My India, considered among the more reliable agencies, significantly undercalled the sweep. The episode highlighted how seat conversion — not just vote share — remains a major blind spot.
Chhattisgarh & Madhya Pradesh 2023: Comeback surprise
In the 2023 Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly election, most exit polls projected a comfortable Congress win, citing anti-incumbency being limited. The outcome flipped expectations, with the BJP returning to power with over 50 seats.
A similar underestimation was seen in the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, where only a handful of pollsters captured the scale of the BJP’s victory. Together, the two states reinforced how regional dynamics can elude standard polling models.
Uttar Pradesh 2017: Landslide no one saw
Exit polls in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election broadly pointed to a hung assembly, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party but short of a majority. The projections reflected a fragmented electoral picture.
The actual verdict was dramatically different. The BJP swept the state with 325 seats, delivering one of the most decisive mandates in recent decades. The scale of the victory exposed a major gap in assessing voter consolidation.
Bihar 2015: Close fight turned decisive
In the 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, exit polls indicated a tight contest between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, with no clear winner.
The results, however, produced a decisive mandate for the RJD-JDU-Congress alliance, with the RJD emerging as the largest party. The outcome highlighted how alliances and caste equations can be underestimated in polling models.
Delhi 2015: Scale underestimated
Exit polls for the 2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly election correctly predicted an AAP victory but failed to anticipate its magnitude. Most surveys projected a comfortable but not overwhelming win.
The final tally — 67 out of 70 seats — turned it into one of the most one-sided elections in India’s history. It showed that even when directionally correct, exit polls can fall short in capturing wave elections.
Lok Sabha 2014: Majority underestimated
In the 2014 Indian general election, exit polls predicted an NDA win but suggested it would fall short of a majority, with estimates clustered below the halfway mark.
The results delivered a stronger-than-expected mandate, with the NDA winning 336 seats and the BJP alone securing a majority. The miss highlighted how national waves can be underestimated.
Lok Sabha 2004: The big upset
The 2004 Indian general election remains one of the most cited examples of exit poll failure. Most surveys predicted a comfortable return for the NDA under the “India Shining” campaign.
The final results defied expectations, with the NDA reduced to 187 seats and the Congress-led alliance forming the government. The election underscored how sentiment on the ground can diverge sharply from perceived narratives.
Why exit polls go wrong
Experts have said that the reasons behind these misses are varied. Sampling limitations, urban bias, reluctance among voters to disclose preferences, and last-minute swings all play a role.
In a country as vast and diverse as India, capturing voter sentiment accurately is inherently challenging. Multi-cornered contests, shifting alliances and the presence of silent voters further complicate predictions.
From indicators to verdicts
Exit polls have become an integral part of India’s electoral ecosystem, shaping narratives and expectations in the hours before counting. But their track record suggests they are better seen as indicators rather than definitive forecasts.
As projections begin to roll in later today, they will dominate headlines and political chatter. But if history is any guide, the final verdict may still hold surprises — reinforcing the old adage that in Indian elections, the only result that matters is the one declared on counting day.
(With inputs from TOI)
