INDIA bloc parties to participate in exit poll debates, says Congress leader

INDIA bloc parties on June 1 announced that they will participate in the exit poll debates on television after the grouping's top leaders met and deliberated on the issue at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence.

The development comes a day after the Congress said it has decided to not participate in any Lok Sabha exit poll debates on television channels. The party had said that it does not want to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRP.

Meanwhile, Pawan Khera, Congress's media and publicity department head said that INDIA bloc parties met and decided to expose the BJP and its ecosystem on the prefixed exit polls.

Taking to the microblogging site X, Khera wrote, "After considering factors for and against participating in the exit polls, it has been decided by consensus that all the INDIA (bloc) parties will participate in the exit poll debates on television this evening.”

On Friday, Khera had said people have cast their votes and their verdict has been secured. In a statement on X, he said, “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.”

"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 June 4 onwards," Khera said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda had claimed on May 31 that the Congress's decision to not participate in exit poll debates is the confirmation that the opposition party has conceded the Lok Sabha elections.

Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah said in a statement that the Congress has been in a "denial mode" since he began playing a key role in its affairs.