In U-turn, INDIA leaders to participate in exit poll debates; Kharge claims bloc will win 295+ seats

Just hours after saying they would stay away from exit poll debates of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, senior leaders of the opposition INDIA blocdecided to participate in them on television on Saturday (June 1). The U-turn from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or INDIA came after its supporters gathered in a massive show of strength at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Delhi as the seventh and final phase of polling drew to a close.

Congress leader Pawan Khera took to his official X handle and wrote, "INDIA parties met and decided to expose the BJP and its ecosystem on the prefixed exit polls. After considering factors for and against participating in the exit polls, it has been decided by consensus that all the INDIA parties will participate in the exit poll debates on television this evening."

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Earlier, the grand old party had released a statement saying that it will not take part in the exit poll debates calling it a "slugfest for TRP."

"Our statement on the reason for not participating in #ExitPolls Voters have cast their votes and their verdict has been secured. 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 #ExitPolls. The purpose of any debate should be to inform the people. We will happily partake in debates from 4th June onwards," Khera had written earlieron social media.

Leaders from Congress, Samajwadi Party, CPI-M, CPI, DMK, JMM, AAP, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar) took part in the discussions at Kharge's residence.

Kharge predicts 295 seats for INDIA alliance

After the meeting, the Congress president exuded confidence stating that the INDIA alliance will win at least 295 seats.

“INDIA bloc will win at least 295 seats. This is not based on our survey. This is what people have told us," Kharge said.

"A host of issues were discussed during the Opposition alliance's meeting that lasted for nearly two and a half hours. We have also discussed with all the parties about what strategy we should adopt on the day of the counting of votes," he added.

TMC and PDP skip meeting

INDIA constituent Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had previously released a statement saying that she would skip the meeting as the polling in her state for the last phase of elections was underway.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said that she did not attend the meeting due to some personal reasons.

"I may not go as my mom has undergone an eye surgery," she had told news agency PTI.

The leaders who took part in the discussions included Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Anil Desai, Sitaram Yechury, Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwat Mann, Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha, Champai Soren, Kalpana Soren, T R Baalu, Farooq Abdullah, D Raja and Mukesh Sahani.

Apart from Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal were also present at the meeting.

(With inputs from agencies)