After over a decade of accurate exit poll predictions, Pradeep Gupta, chairman and managing director of Axis My India, was left in tears when the results of the Lok Sabha elections did not align with his firm's exit poll results. Despite predicting a landslide victory for the ruling NDA, the preliminary results showed a significant gap, leading to a breakdown on live television. Gupta's emotional outburst on television became a talking point as the election discussions continued, highlighting the unpredictability and importance of the Indian elections.
The Tears of Pradeep Gupta: The Unpredictability of Indian Elections
In the annals of Indian elections, the name Pradeep Gupta stands out as both a visionary and a cautionary tale. As the chairman and managing director of Axis My India, Gupta had established a reputation for accurate exit poll predictions over more than a decade. However, in 2019, his predictions shattered, leaving him in tears and highlighting the unpredictability of Indian democracy.
The 2019 Lok Sabha Elections
In the lead-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Gupta's exit poll predicted a landslide victory for the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On election day, May 12, 2019, Axis My India conducted a nationwide exit poll involving 112,637 respondents. The results were emphatic: the NDA was projected to win between 339 and 364 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, with the Indian National Congress (INC) and its allies far behind.
The Exit Poll Blunder
However, as the preliminary results started rolling in on May 23, a starkly different picture emerged. The NDA fell well short of the predicted tally, winning only 303 seats. The INC-led opposition, too, failed to live up to expectations, winning just 52 seats. The surprise performance of regional parties, such as the Trinamool Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, contributed to the upset.
Gupta's Emotional Outburst
Live on television, as the results defied his predictions, Pradeep Gupta broke down in tears. His outburst became a symbol of the uncertainty and unpredictability of Indian elections, where even the most seasoned pollsters can be caught off guard.
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