Congress Not To Participate In Lok Sabha Exit Poll Debates; BJP Hits Back

The Congress has decided not to participate in any Lok Sabha exit poll debates on the television channels and said it does not want to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRP.

Congress spoksperson and media department chairperson Pawan Khera said the voters have cast their votes and their verdict has been secured.

"The results will be out on 4th June. Prior to that, we do not see any reason to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRP," he said in a statement shared on X. "The Indian National Congress will not participate in the debates on Exit Polls.

The purpose of any debate should be to inform the people. We will happily partake in debates from 4th June onwards," Khera said in a statement. The decision was taken after consultations within the party, the sources said.

BJP Hits Back

The BJP's IT cell chief, Amit Malviya, took a jab at the Congress on Friday, suggesting that the party should consider "staying in their bunkers" on June 4th. This comment comes after the Congress announced its decision not to participate in any Lok Sabha exit poll debates on television channels.

"Congress concedes Lok Sabha 2024 on the eve of Phase 7 polling. It may not be a bad idea for the Congress to stay in their bunkers on 4th Jun too, since results are likely to be more brutal than what exit pollsters may have to say. Good luck!," Malviya said in a post on X.

BJP president J P Nadda on Friday claimed that the Congress' decision to not participate in exit poll debates amounts to an "unequivocal confirmation" that the opposition party has conceded the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

In a post on X, he asked voters not to waste their votes in the seventh and last phase of the polls on Saturday as the Congress usually opts out when it doesn't expect favourable results but has no compunction showing up if it thinks it has even an outside chance.

"Their hypocrisy is not lost on anyone. Let no one in Phase 7 waste their vote on them," he said. Nadda's swipe at the opposition party came after it announced its decision to not participate in any Lok Sabha exit poll debates on news channels, saying it does not want to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRPs.