"Silent voters, misgovernance, will cost the government to the BJP": Debabrata Saikia

Leader of Opposition and Congress candidate from Nazira Assembly constituency, Debabrata Saikia on Friday expressed scepticism over the credibility of exit polls predicting the outcome of the Assam Assembly elections, asserting that past projections had often failed to match the actual results.

Speaking to the media in Guwahati, Saikia said he did not trust exit polls, citing previous instances where forecasts had proved inaccurate. Referring to the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, he said exit polls had predicted a clear majority for the BJP, but the final outcome differed significantly.

Saikia stated that the political atmosphere in Assam this time appeared different, claiming that many voters had remained silent about their electoral choices. According to him, the silence among sections of the electorate indicated a possible desire for political change in the state.

The Congress leader alleged that some voters were reluctant to openly discuss their voting preferences due to fear of “retaliation” by BJP workers. He further claimed that factors such as alleged misgovernance and anti-incumbency sentiment could adversely affect the ruling BJP in the election results.

Saikia maintained that the role of “silent voters” would be crucial in determining the final outcome of the elections.