Panneerselvam hails exit polls favouring NDA

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Tuesday hailed the exit polls favouring a second term for the BJP-led NDA at the Centre, saying it indicated a "good verdict" to be given by the voters.

Responding to Chief Minister K Palaniswami's remarks that the exit polls were "imposing of opinions", his deputy said such views were based on the respective individuals' "frame or mind", but did not elaborate.

Palaniswami had on Monday dismissed the exit polls suggesting a bad show by the AIADMK in the just-concluded Lok Sabha election in Tamil Nadu as "imposing of opinions" and exuded confidence that they would be proved wrong.

Panneerselvam, the AIADMK coordinator, also expressed confidence that the ruling coalition would secure a grand victory in Tamil Nadu, despite the exit polls projecting otherwise.

He was speaking to reporters here before leaving for Delhi to attend a dinner for NDA leaders to be hosted by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Tuesday evening, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to be present.

"The exit polls show that all people residing in India are going to give a good verdict that the BJP should come back to power," Panneerselvam said.

Asked about the same exit polls painting a bleak picture for the BJP-led NDA in Tamil Nadu, he said, "The AIADMK alliance will secure a grand victory in all the 38 Lok Sabha seats and the 22 Assembly segments where bypolls were held."