West Bengal reported a little over 84 per cent turnout in the first phase of assembly elections on March 27.
Soon after, a screenshot, purportedly of an exit poll survey of Bengal’s Phase 1 elections conducted by “ABP News”, is circulating on social media. According to the screenshot, of the 30 assembly seats where voters have already exercised their franchise, Trinamool will win 23-26 seats, BJP 1-3 seats, and Left-Congress alliance 0-1 seat.
Also, a fake opinion poll falsely credited to Bengali news channel Kolkata TV is predicting Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Suvendu Adhikari’s winning vote share in the Nandigram constituency is viral on social media. In a news bulletin Kolkata TV debunked the opinion poll that has been misleadingly attributed to the channel. The opinion poll is viral in the backdrop of the second phase of West Bengal assembly elections that will be held on April 1. The second phase of elections in Bengal will see polling in 30 assembly constituencies across four districts – Bankura, West Midnapore, East Midnapore and South 24 Parganas. Nandigram, where West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee will contest against former aide and now rival Suvendu Adhikari from BJP, will go on polls in the second phase. Political analysts have touted the Nandigram constituency contest as ‘Battle Royale’, as Banerjee faces Adhikari, her longtime friend turned foe. Both Banerjee and Adhikari were instrumental in swinging the votes of Nandigram that helped them dethrone the Left bastion in 2011 and come to power. In this wake multiple fake surveys and letter are doing the rounds on social media.
One such Facebook post along with the screenshot says, “According to ABP News, in the first phase of Bengal Polls All India Trinamool Congress to get 23-26 seats out of 30. We can see a clear picture that Mamata Banerjee will take oath as C.M of W.B for the third time on 2nd May. #TMCSweepsPhase1#BengalRejectsBJP.” Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found that the screenshot is morphed. ABP News has confirmed the same, and also according to Election Commission rules, airing exit poll results is not allowed till polling is over. Sanjay Bragta, input head at ABP News, confirmed that the news organisation has not aired exit poll surveys as it violates EC guidelines. “The screenshot is fake. We can’t air exit poll surveys in the middle of elections as per guidelines. The exit poll is aired on the last day after polling is over,” he said.
Hence, it is clear that the viral screenshot is fake and ABP News has not published any exit poll result on the Phase 1 elections in Bengal.
