Exit polls effect? Mayawati won't meet Gandhis in Delhi
Sunday's exit polls spelled trouble for almost all Opposition parties as pollsters gave a clear edge to BJP-led NDA. Amid the nervousness surrounding actual results, there were rumors that Opposition parties will meet in Delhi on Monday to discuss strategy for May 23. And now, BSP has confirmed its chief Mayawati will not go to Delhi but stay in Lucknow. Here's what happened.
According to pollsters, Narendra Modi will become PM again
If exit polls are anything to go by, the wave of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not subsided in the slightest. NDA will easily cross the 272-mark on May 23, predicted pollsters. Apart from this, Opposition parties, mostly Congress, will find it difficult to hold on to the regained ground. Along with the allies, Congress might win somewhere between 110 and 125 seats.
Notably, it was Naidu who facilitated the meeting
However, even before exit polls gave a clear majority to NDA, Opposition parties swung to action. Monday's meeting was reportedly planned by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Reportedly, Naidu became the person in contact between Mayawati and Congress President Rahul Gandhi. He met Mayawati in Lucknow and also spoke to Rahul, twice, in Delhi. But looks he didn't achieve his goal.
BSP confirmed Mayawati is not leaving Lucknow today
Quelling all reports about the much-talked-about meeting, BSP's Satish Chandra Mishra said on Monday, "Mayawati ji has no program or meetings scheduled in Delhi today, she will be in Lucknow." It should be recalled that throughout electioneering, Mayawati berated Congress and BJP in the same breath. However, Rahul took a mature stand and maintained that he only has respect for Mayawati.
Mayawati ignored Gandhis, but met ally Akhilesh Yadav
Meanwhile, exit polls predicted Andhra might slip from Naidu's grip
It should be noted that while Naidu has been busy stitching alliances and working for a united Opposition, his own fate looks dicey. As per exit polls, YSR Congress led by Jagan Mohan Reddy will win 13-14 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra. TDP's tally could be reduced to meager 11. The exit polls for assembly elections didn't paint a clear picture.
Seeing Naidu's 'efforts', Shiv Sena wished him luck
Naidu's frequent trips to Delhi and his meetings with Opposition leaders gave Shiv Sena an opportunity to attack him. In its mouthpiece Saamna, Sena suggested that Naidu should take a step back. "Why Chandrababu Naidu is exhausting himself without any reason? Hope his current excitement last till May 23. We wish him luck for the same," the latest issue of the publication read.
