New Delhi: After exit polls predicted a big win for Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi dismissed the prediction calling it a fantasy of the ruling government and the prime minister.

Rahul Gandhi dubbed the exit polls as "Modi media poll". "This is not called an exit poll but its name is 'Modi media poll'. This is Modi ji's poll, it is his fantasy poll," Rahul Gandhi said. He made the remarks at the AICC headquarters after a meeting with party's Lok Sabha MPs via video conference. Reports suggest that during the meeting Rahul Gandhi told INDI leaders that the exit polls are being brought to demoralize Opposition leaders. 

Rahul Gandhi Recalls Moosewala's Song 

Asked how many seats INDIA bloc will get, Gandhi said, "Have you heard Sidhu Moose Wala's song '295'? So 295 (seats)." Earlier, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that the INDI alliance will win over 295 seats. 

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also said that the exit polls that came out Saturday evening are "completely bogus" and have been "orchestrated and masterminded by the man whose exit is inevitable and guaranteed on June 4". "These are all part of the psychological games being played by the outgoing prime minister (Narendra Modi) and the outgoing home minister (Amit Shah). The outgoing home minister called up 150 District Magistrates and collectors yesterday. The results that the exit polls have come up with bear no relation to reality," the Congress leader claimed.

What Exit Polls Predicted 

Exit polls on Saturday predicted that Prime Minister Modi will retain power for a third straight term, with the BJP-led NDA expected to win a big majority in the Lok Sabha polls. Republic-PMARQ and Matrize have predicted a landslide victory for the ruling BJP-led NDA, with projections indicating a sweeping win of 353-369 seats. 

For the unversed, the BJP has set a target of securing 370 seats, aiming to surpass the historic milestone of 400 with support from its allies.  In the 2019 polls, the BJP secured a big win with 303 seats, consolidating further to 352 with the support of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Congress, on the other hand, had managed 52 seats, and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) tallied 91.