"Political strategy to influence mindset of people": DK Shivakumar on PM Modi's 100-day agenda
Jun 03, 2024
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 3 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday termed Prime Minister Modi's 100-day agenda meeting as a "Political strategy".
"It is only a political strategy to influence the mindset of people. We also have our strategies, and so does every political party. Exit polls are not correct, INDIA bloc will secure a majority and form a government at the Centre," he said.
Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also appeared confident about retaining his seat in Thiruvananthapuram despite some exit polls predicting his loss.
"I am perfectly aware that Thiruvananthapuram is the BJP's strongest constituency in Kerala, that on two occasions they have come second and therefore they are entirely capable of coming second again. But the possibility that they can win is, at the moment, a remote one because there has to be some basis for it. We have looked all over the place, there was no wave...In a three-cornered contest, there has to be nonetheless either a perception of what exactly the constituency is lacking in its present arrangement for a major anti-incumbency to occur or there has to be a perception that there is something wonderful about the alternative...I can tell you that none of us have seen anything that will justify any concern on our part. We are quite relaxed going into tomorrow's counting," he said
"Not just Thiruvananthapuram, I am also 100% confident that the numbers you have all seen in the Exit Polls for the nationwide picture will also be belied tomorrow," he added.
PM Modi on June 3 held seven meetings on a wide range of topics, including a brainstorming session to review the agenda for the new government's first 100 days after the exit polls predicted a massive win for the BJP.
A few exit polls even predicted that the BJP-led NDA could reach the goal of "400 paar" as claimed by BJP leaders in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls.
If the exit poll predictions come true on June 4 when votes are counted, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will become the only PM after Jawaharlal Nehru to win three successive terms in Lok Sabha polls. The exit polls predicted 'Modi 3.0' with PM Modi having led the BJP's poll effort through rallies and roadshows in various parts of the country.
According to India Today-Axis My India exit polls, NDA is predicted to win 361-401 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. The INDIA bloc is expected to win 131-166 seats, it said and gave 8 to 20 seats to other parties.
The Republic PMarq exit poll gave 359 of 543 seats to NDA, 154 to INDIA bloc and 30 to others. Republic Matrize poll gave 353-368 seats to NDA, 118-113 to the INDIA bloc and 43-48 to others. The NewsX Dynamics gave 371 seats to NDA, 125 to INDIA bloc and 47 to others.