Tamil Nadu: Exit Polls Predict Big Win For DMK As M K Stalin Emerges Favourite For CM Post

Exit Polls have predicted a big victory for the DMK as M K Stalin is projected to become the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

The Republic-CNX poll has predicted 160 to 170 seats for the DMK with the AIADMK emerging as a distant second with 58 to 68 seats.

The India Today-Axis poll has predicted a complete sweep for the DMK with victories on 175 to 195 seats out of 234. Kamal Haasan's MNM may win zero to two seats.

Today's Chanakya has similarly projected 175 ± 11 seats for the DMK and 57 ± 11 Seats for the AIADMK and BJP combine.

The ABP-C Voter exit poll too has predicted 160 to 172 seats and 58 to 70 seats for the AIADMK.

The AIADMK leaders have cited the example of 2016, when exit polls had wrongly predicted a DMK victory, to assert that the party will spring a surprise on 2 May.

Incumbent Chief Minister E Palaniswami has been credited for his governance and handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

During the first wave of Covid-19, the Tamil Nadu government was one of the earliest state governments to take the situation seriously.

As early as 17 January 2020, the state health and welfare ministry had acknowledged the possibility of Covid-19 coming to Tamil Nadu and detected the state’s first case on 7 March.

Between these two dates, the EPS government had readied the rapid response teams (RRTs) at state and district levels; set up a 24/7 control room; started thermal scanning of air travellers from China; created isolation wards in general hospitals of four major cities in the state; and ran awareness campaigns.

These early measures by the government definitely saved the state from Covid-19 even in the first wave.