Accepting Rahul Gandhi's exit poll skepticism, says Axis My India CMD
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New Delhi: Pradeep Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Axis My India, while replying to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's denouncement of exit polls with the remark of "sour grapes," said that Rahul Gandhi has the right to interpret the exit polls as he sees fit.
The pollster pointed out that the Congress leader had previously accepted and agreed with Axis My India exit polls when they had projected victories for his party in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana. In response to the exit poll forecast suggesting another major victory for the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi referred to the late singer Sidhu Moose Wala's song "295," predicting that the INDIA bloc would eventually secure 295 seats. He aimed to discredit the exit polls, labeling them as "Modi media polls" and "fantasy polls."
When asked about any presence of a wave of support for Rahul Gandhi during the elections or if Congress candidates were winning based on local dynamics, Gupta highlighted that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress had conducted their campaigns under the INDIA bloc banner. Similarly, regional parties contested elections independently in various states such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
Gupta observed that there is a lack of a significant brand for Rahul Gandhi. He further noted that even in Congress-governed states like Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi is neither the figure to identify with the party nor do people primarily vote for the party because of him. According to Gupta, the Congress sought votes in these states by emphasizing facilities and systems, which resonated with the voters.
Regarding the impact of the freebies, particularly Rahul Gandhi's "Khata Khat" promise, Gupta emphasized that such slogans cannot resonate with people without substantial content and a product to back them. He explained that effective marketing relies on a tangible product or offering. He also underlined the interdependence of packaging and marketing, noting that marketing alone is ineffective without a quality product.
Axis My India's exit poll forecasted 361-401 seats for the BJP-led NDA out of a total of 543 seats in the Lok Sabha polls and 131 to 166 seats for the INDIA bloc.
Source: IANS