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  • In cliff-hanger, BJP may just touch half-way mark in MP assembly polls, says India TV-CNX opinion poll survey

    In cliff-hanger, BJP may just touch half-way mark in MP assembly polls, says India TV-CNX opinion poll survey

    Mumbai:  The ruling BJP may emerge as the single largest party and may just touch the half-way mark of 115 seats in the Madhya Pradesh assembly election to be held next month on November 17, says India TV-CNX opinion poll survey. Results of the survey were telecast today on the news channel.

    The opinion poll projections show, BJP may win 115 seats, compared to 109 seats it had won five years ago in the 230-member assembly. The main opposition party Congress may win 110 seats, compared to 114 seats it had won five years ago, says the survey. ‘Others’ including independents hold the key, and they are likely to win five seats. In the last elections, seven seats were won by independents and local parties.

    Vote share projections show, BJP may get 44.38 per cent, Congress may get 42.51 per cent, and ‘Others’ may get 13.11 pc. In the 2018 elections, BJP had got 41.02 pc, Congress had got 40.89 pc, and ‘Others’ had got 18.09 pc votes.

    REGION-WISE SEAT PROJECTIONS

    Region-wise, India TV-CNX poll projections show:  

    In Baghelkhand having 51 seats, BJP may win 31, Congress may win 19 and Others may win one seat.

    In Bhopal having 24 seats, BJP may win 16 seats leaving the remaining eight seats to Congress.

    In Chambal having 34 seats, Congress may win 22 seats, leaving 12 seats to BJP.

    In Mahakaushal having 47 seats, Congress may win 26 seats, BJP may win 19 seats, and Others may win two seats.

    In Malwa having 46 seats, BJP may win 25 seats, Congress may win 20 seats, and the remaining one seat may go to Others.

    In Nimar having 28 seats, Congress may win 15 seats, BJP may win 12 seats, and the remaining one seat may go to Others.

    PREFERENCE FOR CHIEF MINISTER

    The survey findings show Shivraj Singh Chauhan leading with 44.32 per cent respondents wishing him to continue as chief minister. Chauhan is closely followed by State Congress chief Kamal Nath with 38.58 per cent respondents showing their preference for him as the next CM. BJP leader and union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stands in third position with only 9.00 per cent, Congress leader Digvijay Singh with 1.52 pc, and ‘Others’ being preferred by 6.58 pc respondents.

    KEY FINDINGS

    •  A whopping 65.32 per cent respondents said, there should be a caste-based census in MP, while 20.63 pc were not in favour. 14.05 pc said, Can’t say.
    •  27.4 per cent respondents said, unemployment was the biggest issue in MP, while 21.05 pc said, Development is the biggest issue. 19.11 per cent said, Inflation was the biggest issue. 14.42 pc said, Hindutva was the biggest issue, while 7.23 pc said, Corruption was the biggest issue. 
    •  46.83 pc respondents rated Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s performance on a scale between 8 and 10, while 40.67 per cent rated him on a scale between 0 and 4.  12.5 per cent rated his performance on a scale between 5 and 7. 
    •  37 per cent respondents said, they were fully satisfied with the work done by their MLA in the last five years, while 32.12 per cent said they were fully dissatisfied. 
    •  Asked which government performed better in MP, 42.43 pc said BJP government, while 37.02 per cent said Congress government.
    •  On a question asked from women voters only, 47.3 per cent women said, Chouhan’s Ladli Behna Yojana will have an impact on the election, while 36.5 per cent said ‘No’.
    •  Asked which party’s welfare scheme (guarantees) was good, 43.62 per cent opted for BJP while 42.15 pc opted for Congress. 
    •  44.75 per cent voters said they were dissatisfied with the state government’s handling of Covid pandemic crisis, while 35.61 per cent voters said, they were satisfied. 
    •  A whopping 53.25 per cent respondents said, BJP’s decision to field central ministers and MPs in election will give advantage to the party, while 37.18 per cent said, No.

    The opinion poll survey was carried out by CNX among 11,500 respondents (5,758 males and 5,742 females) across 115 randomly selected constituencies. The respondents were selected randomly for a sample population encompassing diverse professions, including cobblers, tailors, barbers, daily wage labourers, petty shopkeepers, migrant labourers, registered medical practitioners, auto and taxi drivers, real estate dealers, among others. The age group ranged from 18 to 60 years old.

  • Political heavyweights clash in spirited debate on New India

    Political heavyweights clash in spirited debate on New India

    Mumbai: Political heavyweights engaged in a spirited debate at ABP Network’s “The Southern Rising” Summit. The debate took place during a session titled “Whose New India? Past, Imperfect, or Fast Forward.” The panel, which included John Brittas, Narayanan Thirupathy, and M V Rajeev Gowda, presented a mosaic of contrasting viewpoints.

    Observing the freedom of media in the nation BJP vice president Narayanan Thirupathy said, “Everyone in India now has the freedom to speak on any issue”. He further adds, “Many say BJP can’t have a foothold in Tamil Nadu. In the last 60 years, it is the BJP that has been growing in the state more than other parties. We have done very well, our booth committee is very strong. There is a big vacuum in the absence of Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi, and BJP will definitely fill the vacuum. Definitely, the BJP is going to form the government in 2026.”

    Member of Parliament (CPIM) John Brittas said, “India is a multi-religious country and you can only have democracy when you have free and independent media. ” He further adds, “India has a rich history of welcoming all cultures and boasts a diverse heritage. South India is the home of reformists. With 18% of the population, we contribute 35% to the GDP.

    Contributing to the discussion and presenting a unique angle M V Rajeev Gowda, vice chairperson, State Institute for Transformation of Karnataka and ex-member of parliament, Rajya Sabha (INC) said “We are experiencing a BJP-free South India. In Karnataka, we saw corruption. The contractors wrote letters to the PM complaining about corruption. We need to provide people with fair prices and a safety net. This is something Congress will continue in the country. The Nyay scheme is also a safety net for people. We are expected to win Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh in a spectacular way.”

    Countering to that John added, “The BJP can maintain its optimism, as everyone has the right to dream of coming to power in Tamil Nadu in 2026.”

    The compelling dialogue in the session left the audience with a sense of urgency, underscoring the vital need to strike a delicate balance between history, the present, and the future in order to shape a prosperous and harmonious India.

    ‘The Southern Rising’ Summit was conceptualised and instituted by ABP Network as a tribute to the exceptional growth, cultural opulence, and societal harmony exemplified by the southern states of India.  It aims to celebrate the spirit and richness of southern states, united on a singular mission of driving a transformative journey for India. The summit thus witnesses profound deliberations and sharing of insights by the movers and shakers of South Indian states and Union Territories.

  • ABP News concludes ‘Shikhar Sammelan,’ offering illuminating insights into Chhattisgarh’s political landscape

    ABP News concludes ‘Shikhar Sammelan,’ offering illuminating insights into Chhattisgarh’s political landscape

    Mumbai: ABP News, one of India’s Hindi news channels, delved once again into the political landscape of Chhattisgarh through an enlightening session of ‘Shikhar Sammelan,’ as the state gears up for its upcoming legislative assembly. This flagship event showcased ABP News’ unwavering commitment to furnishing a platform for in-depth discussions and analyses of pivotal political and governance matters. The half-day conclave was organised on August 19, 2023, at BabyLon International in Raipur. 

    ABP News’ ‘Shikhar Sammelan’, renowned for its rigorous assessment of governmental performance, brought together eminent figures, thought leaders, and citizens to engage in meaningful dialogues concerning the challenges and opportunities facing Chhattisgarh.  

    Distinguished attendees at the event included Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, who shared invaluable insights derived from his leadership journey. Also present were Chhattisgarh former chief minister Raman Singh, Chhattisgarh INC general secretary in-charge Kumari Selja, spiritual Guru Sadhu Manvendra Das & Dr. Kumar Vishwas and preacher Devakinandan Thakur, and bhagwat preacher & motivational speaker Devi Chitralekha. Rajya Sabha member Saroj Pandey; BJP MLA Brajmohan Agarwal, Chhattisgarh Congress committee state president Deepak Baij and Chhattisgarh cabinet minister Dr. Shiv Dahria also graced the event with their presence.

    At the event, Baghel addressed the forthcoming state assembly elections. He highlighted that Congress initially secured 68 seats in the 2018 elections, which later increased to 71 through subsequent by-elections. Baghel stressed that preserving this count poses a considerable challenge. The party is dedicated to achieving and sustaining this target, showcasing their political commitment.

    ‘Shikhar Sammelan’ stands as a testament to ABP News’ dedication to fostering transparency, accountability, and responsible governance. The event provided a platform where key decision-makers directly engaged with the people they represent, underscoring the essence of participatory democracy. 

    The event concluded successfully, marking another significant achievement for ABP News in its endeavour to promote informed discussions and meaningful interactions.

  • If Lok Sabha polls are held now, Modi led NDA will witness landslide victory: India TV opinion polls

    If Lok Sabha polls are held now, Modi led NDA will witness landslide victory: India TV opinion polls

    New Delhi: India TV has predicted that if Lok Sabha elections are held now, prime minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) can register a landslide victory on 362 Lok sabha seats out of a total of 543. The prediction is made following a nationwide opinion poll by India TV-Matrize News Communication.

    The results of the survey titled ‘Desh Ki Awaaz’ (Voice of the Nation) were telecast on India’s No. 1 news channel India TV on July 29 at 4 p.m.

    According to the survey, Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is projected to win only 97 lok sabha seats if general elections are held now, with ‘Others’ including small, regional parties and independents projected to win 84 seats.

    The survey says, NDA is projected to get 41 per cent votes, UPA may get 28 per cent and others 31 per cent votes, if elections are held now.

    Asked about their first choice for Prime Minister, 48 per cent said they would want to see Narendra Modi again as PM. Modi was followed by Rahul Gandhi with 11 percent, Mamata Banerjee 8 percent,  Sonia Gandhi 7 percent,  Mayawati 6 percent, Sharad Pawar 6 percent, and Arvind Kejriwal 5 percent, Nitish Kumar 4 percent, K Chandrashekhar Rao 3 pcercent and Priyanka Vadra with 2 percent.

    Asked who is the strongest political opponent of Modi, 23 percent respondents favoured Rahul Gandhi, while 19 percent opted for Arvind Kejriwal. 11 per cent favoured Mamata Banerjee, and 8 per cent  each opted for Nitish Kumar and Sonia Gandhi.

    The India TV-Matrize Opinion Poll ‘Desh Ki Awaaz’ was conducted from 11-24 July, in 136 out of 543 parliamentary constituencies of India with a sample size of 34,000 respondents, among whom 19,830 were males and 14,170 were females.

    The state-wise break-up given in the survey makes interesting reading.

    In the most populous state Uttar Pradesh, NDA may win a whopping 76 out of 80 Lok sabha seats, with UPA and others projected to win only two seats each. In Bihar, NDA may win 35 out of a total of 40 seats, and the UPA may win five seats.

    In Maharashtra, NDA may win 37 out of a total 48 lok sabha seats, while non-BJP opposition may win the remaining 11 seats.

    The ruling DMK-led UPA in Tamil Nadu is projected to win 38 out of a total of 39 seats, leaving the lone remaining seat to NDA. In LDF-ruled Kerala, the non-BJP opposition can sweep all the 20 Lok sabha seats in the state.

    In TMC-ruled West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress is projected to win 26 out of a total of 42 seats, with NDA projected to win 14 and UPA two.

    According to state-wise break up given by the survey agency, Gujarat has total 26 seats out of which NDA can get 26 and UPA 0. While in Maharashtra, there are total 48 seats, out of which NDA can get 37 and UPA 11.

    Goa has total 2 and both will be named to NDA. Rajasthan has total 25 and NDA will get all 25. Madhya Pradesh has total 29, NDA can get 28 and UPA may get 1.  Chhattisgarh has total 11 out of which NDA may get 10 and UPA 1.

    Below is the seat wise prediction for all the states.

    West Bengal: Total 42, NDA 14, UPA 2, Others (TMC) 26.

    Bihar: Total 40, NDA 35, UPA 5.

    Jharkhand: Total 14, NDA 13, UPA 1.

    Odisha:Total 21, NDA 11, UPA 2, Others (includes BJD) 8.

    Himachal Pradesh: Total 4. NDA 4.

    Punjab: Total 13, NDA 3, UPA 3, Others (includes AAP) 7.

    Haryana: Total 10, NDA 9, UPA 1.

    Jammu & Kashmir, Laddakh: Total 6, NDA 3, UPA 0, Others 3.

    Delhi: Total 7, NDA 7, UPA 0, Others 0.

    Uttar Pradesh: Total 80, NDA 76, UPA 2, Others 2.

    Uttarakhand: Total 5, NDA 5, UPA 0.

    Telangana: Total 17, NDA 6, UPA 2, Others (includes TRS) 9.

    Andhra: Total 25, NDA 0, UPA 0, Others (includes YSRCongress) 25.

    Karnataka: Total 28, NDA 23, UPA 4 Others 1.

    Tamil Nadu: Total 39, NDA 1, UPA(includes DMK) 38, Others 0.

    Kerala: Total 20, NDA 0, UPA 20, Others 0.

    Tripura: Total 2, NDA 2, UPA 0.

    Assam: Total 14, NDA 11, UPA 1, Others 2.

    NE states: Total 9, NDA 7, UPA 1, Others 1.

    Rest UTs:Total 6, NDA 4, UPA 2, Others 0.

  • BJP may regain Rajasthan & Chhattisgarh and retain Gujarat, MP & HP; TRS likely to retain power in Telangana, says India TV-Matrize poll

    BJP may regain Rajasthan & Chhattisgarh and retain Gujarat, MP & HP; TRS likely to retain power in Telangana, says India TV-Matrize poll

    Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may return to power in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and retain power in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, according to assembly seat projection made by India TV-Matrize opinion poll, results of which were telecast on the news channel on Saturday (30 July).

    On the other hand, the ruling Trinamool Congress may retain power in West Bengal with a reduced majority, while TRS & Aam Aadmi Party may continue to remain in power in Telangana and Punjab respectively if elections are held now, says the opinion poll.

    Following are the details of the opinion poll from different states:

    Rajasthan

    In the 200-seat Rajasthan assembly, if elections are held now, BJP may win 148 seats, Congress may win 42 seats, and ‘others’ including independents may win 10 seats, according to the opinion poll. In the 2018 elections, BJP had won 73, Congress had won 99 and others had won 28 seats. Voting percentage: BJP 52 percent, Congress 31 percent and others 17 percent if elections are held now. The assembly elections are scheduled for next year.

    Asked about favourite choice for CM, Ashok Gehlot leads with 27 percent, BJP leader Vasundhara Raje comes second with 22 percent, and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat with 19 percent. Congress leader Sachin Pilot got 11 percent support from respondents.

    The biggest electoral issue among respondents was: (1) the government’s performance 31 percent and (2) Narendra Modi factor of 26 percent (3) MLA’s work 14 percent and (4) Communal polarization 12 percent.

    Asked about the effects of Kanhaiyalal’s beheading in Udaipur, 69 pc said ‘yes’ and 23 pc said ‘no.

    Asked which party they would prefer to form government next year, 57 percent said BJP while 27 percent said Congress. Asked in whose name will you cast your vote, 42 per cent said, “in Modi’s name”. Only 28 percent said “in Ashok Gehlot’s name”.

    Gujarat

    In the 182-seat Gujarat assembly, BJP is going to retain power by winning 108 seats, Congress may win 55 seats, AAP may win eight seats and others including independents may win 11 seats. In the 2017 assembly elections, BJP had won 99 seats, Congress had won 77 seats, and other six seats. The assembly elections are due in December this year. The voting percentage shown in the survey is BJP 48 percent, Congress 33 percent and AAP 16 percent.

    Asked whether BJP should project a CM candidate before the elections, 38 per cent said ‘No’, 36 per cent said ‘BJP should declare a new face’, and 22 per cent said “the present CM”.

    Asked in whose name will you cast your vote, 33 per cent said “for Modi”, 24 per cent said, “for the candidate with the best image”.

    Asked about the best face for CM, only 22 per cent said Bhupendra Patel, the present CM, 16 per cent opted for BJP leader Purushottam Rupala, 9 per cent for Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil, and a whopping 69 per cent said “any other face”.

    Madhya Pradesh

    In the 230-seat Madhya Pradesh Assembly, BJP is set to retain power winning 119 seats, while Congress may win 98 seats and Others 13 seats. In the 2018 elections, BJP had won 109 seats, Congress had won 114 and Others had won seven seats. Voting percentage in opinion poll: BJP 44 per cent and Congress 41 percent.

    Asked about their first choice for CM candidate, 38 per cent preferred the current CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while 31 percent opted for Congress leader Kamal Nath.

    Chhattisgarh

    In the 90-seat Chhattisgarh assembly BJP is projected to win 48 seats, while the ruling Congress party may win 40 seats. Others may win only 2 seats. In the 2018 elections, Congress had won 68, BJP had won 15 and Others had won 7 seats. Voting percentage in opinion poll: Congress 40 percent and BJP 43 percent.

    38 per cent of respondents said they would vote in the name of Modi, while 22 percent opted for Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Among the choices for CM, 29 percent said they would support State BJP chief Vishnudeo Sai, 24 percent opted for Bhupesh Baghel and 14 percent for ex-CM Raman Singh.

    Maharashtra

    In the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly, BJP may emerge as the largest party again with 134 seats, while its ally Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena may win 41 seats, meaning that the alliance can win a comfortable majority. NCP may win 44 seats, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena may win 18 seats, Congress may win 38 seats and others 13. Voting percentage in opinion poll: BJP 34.1 percent, NCP 19.6 percent, Congress 16.1 percent, Shinde Shiv Sena 12.6 percent and Uddhav Shiv Sena 9.1 percent. Assembly polls are due in 2024.

    Who will be the best face for CM? 38.4 percent opted for Devendra Fadnavis, 11.3 percent for Eknath Shinde, 9.2 percent for Sharad Pawar, 8.6 percent for Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan and 8.1 percent for Uddhav Thackeray.

    52 per cent said they wanted to see BJP-Eknath Shiv Sena govt again in 2024, while 32 percent opted for Congress-NCP government. 52 per cent said they will vote “in the name of Modi’, while 32 percent said they will vote “in the name of Sharad Pawar”. 56 percent said the Uddhav-led party is the real Shiv Sena, while 44 percent said the Eknath-led party is the real Shiv Sena.

    Punjab

    If elections are held now in Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party may retain power but with a reduced majority. In the 117-seat assembly, AAP may win 72 seats, BJP 16 seats, Akali Dal 11 seats, Congress 9 and other nine seats. In this year’s assembly polls, AAP had won 92 seats, Congress 18, Akali Dal 3, BJP 2, and Others 2 seats.

    Asked whether they want to change the present government, 46 per cent said ‘No’, 41 per cent said ‘Yes’. Asked about the AAP government’s performance, 32 percent said they were not happy, 31 percent said they were happy, 24 percent said AAP did what they promised, 13 percent said they made a mistake (galti ho gayi).

    Uttar Pradesh

    In the 403-seat UP assembly, if elections are held now, Yogi Adityanath-led BJP may win 292 seats, Samajwadi Party may win 94 seats, Congress one and others 16 seats. In the assembly polls in March this year, BJP had won 255 seats, Samajwadi Party 111, Congress 1 , BSP 1 and Others 35.

    Voting percentage in opinion poll: BJP 44.6 percent and SP 31.3 percent. Asked on which issue would you vote, 38 per cent said “because of Yogi’s popularity”, 26 percent said “sushasan and ration (good governance and ration)”. 56 per cent said “Double engine factor decides the vote” while 39 percent said, “Double engine factor does not decide the vote”.

    Bihar

    In the 243-seat Bihar assembly, if elections are held now, Rashtriya Janata Dal may get 83 seats and BJP may win 81 seats. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) may win 38 seats and Congress may get 11 seats. LJP may win one seat. Others may win 29 seats. Voting percentage in opinion poll, RJD 26.3 per cent, BJP 23.6 percent, JD-U 13.6 percent, and Congress 7.2 percent. Elections are due in 2025. In the 2020 assembly elections, RJD had won 75, BJP 74, JD-U 43, Congress 19, LJP one and Others 31 seats.

    Among the respondents, 39 per cent preferred Narendra Modi, 28 percent preferred Nitish Kumar, and 22 percent opted for Tejashwi Yadav. 45 per cent said they wanted a BJP-JD(U) combine in power, while 22 pc wanted a RJD-Congress combine.

    Telangana

    Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao-led Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is set to retain power if assembly elections are held now. TRS may win 76 seats out of a total of 117 assembly seats. BJP may win 21 and Congress may win 12 seats. Owaisi’s AIMIM may win seven seats and Others one. Voting percentage in opinion poll: TRS 42 percent, BJP 28 percent, Congress 23 percent.

    36 per cent of respondents said they would vote for KCR’s performance, while 22 percent said they would support Modi. Among CM faces, 41.8 percent support K. Chandrashekhar Rao, 26.8 percent supported Congress leader Uttam Kumar Reddy, and 21.6 percent supported BJP leader B. Sanjay Kumar.

    Himachal Pradesh

    BJP may retain power in Himachal Pradesh which goes to assembly polls later this year. According to the opinion poll, BJP is projected to win 47 seats, Congress may win 17 seats, AAP one seat and others three. Percentage-wise in opinion poll: BJP 48 percent, Congress 39 percent, AAP 5 percent.

    Chief Minister Jairam Thakur leads the popular choice for CM with 26 percent, Congress leader Pratibha Singh with 21 percent, Congress leader Asha Kumari and Union Minister Anurag Thakur with 17-17 percent each.

    West Bengal

    In the 294-seat West Bengal Assembly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stormed to power last year, but if elections are held now, her party Trinamool Congress may retain power with reduced majority. This time, TMC may win 173 seats, BJP may win 112 seats, Congress 2, Left 2, Others five. Voting percentage in opinion poll: TMC 46 percent and BJP 41 percent. In last year’s elections, TMC had won 213 seats, BJP had won 77, Others four. Congress and Left did not win a single seat.

    A whopping 46 per cent favoured Mamata Banerjee as CM choice, 24 percent opted for BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, and 20 percent favoured BJP leader Dilip Ghosh.

  • NT Summit & Awards: Experts discuss the importance and relevance of authentic news coverage

    NT Summit & Awards: Experts discuss the importance and relevance of authentic news coverage

    Mumbai: Is television new coverage balanced or has news journalism become a business? Should news broadcasters present the facts clearly while programming it? Do you think that the coverage of TV news is becoming more communal veering away from national issues such as inflation, rising liquid petroleum gas (LPG) prices and unemployment? Experts & opinion leaders in the news broadcast industry deliberated their views and talked about these tough questions head-on at the recently held News Television (NT) Summit in New Delhi.

    The powerful session was joined by Indian National Congress national spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed; Times Now editorial director & editor-in-chief Rahul Shivshankar; Zee Media Corporation editor Rajnish Ahuja; Samajwadi Party national secretary & spokesman Rajeev Rai; BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla; CNN-News18 managing director Zakka Jacob and moderated by media professional & former editor of Star News Ravina Raj Kohli.

    Mohamed highlighted some data and mentioned that in May, 65 percent of primetime news was dedicated to communal issues and only one percent to LPG price rise. In April, 23 percent of primetime airtime was given to communal issues and seven per cent to the petrol price rise. The coverage of the film ‘The Kashmir Files’ accounted for 20 per cent of primetime news and eight per cent was allotted for fuel hike coverage. In December 2021, 22 percent of primetime coverage was on communal issues.

    She pointed out that there are well-known examples of both historical and modern media’s role in amplifying hate and leading to atrocities such as genocides such as ‘Radio Rwanda’ and the role of ‘Facebook in the massacre of Rohingyas’.

    Mohamed also stated that the role of the media is to ask difficult questions from the established government. “In the US, when a CNN reporter was struck out of a press conference by ex-president Donald Trump, he took the matter to the Supreme Court of the United States. Even right-wing news channels such as Fox News stood by the reporter. The media stood its ground and that’s why Trump is out,” she added further.

    Times Now’s Editor-in-chief Rahul Shivshankar noted that every government is worried about the influence of unregulated media. There are troves of misinformation sent via WhatsApp but by the time someone points it out, the fake news has made the damage.

    BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla remarked that in the past journalists always had an incestuous relationship with politics and power. “Every media house has to cater to certain compulsions whether it be commercial or political,” he said. “Today, we are in an era of democratisation thanks to prime minister Modi and digital India. Everyone has access to a cheap data connection and fast data. I don’t think the media needs lectures from anybody, especially the opposition or the people in power. They do a fine job.”

    CNN-News18’s managing director Zakka Jacob was of the view that the agenda on TV was not dictated so much by politics and commercial factors as much by what made a great picture. He said, “The best pictures are those that make it to TV. All the news channels were covering the Rajya Sabha elections but due to a picture story, everyone’s agenda had changed in an hour or two. We tend to confuse news with top bands and ticker bands but at the end of the day it is about great pictures.”

    “It is easy to belittle news channels but at the end of the day, it is the easiest medium to switch off from or change the channel. If viewers are not watching opinion shows on TV, then we’ll be the first ones to cut it from the programming. We are answerable to what the viewer wants to know about,” he further added.

    The event was supported by Dalet who was ‘co-powered by’ partner as well as industry support partners GTPL Hathway, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, JW Player and Live U.

  • TV news channels face-off ahead of counting day on 2 May

    TV news channels face-off ahead of counting day on 2 May

    KERALA: As people in four Indian states and one union territory await the vote counting day on 2 May, television news channels in the country are all set to cover all major developments religiously. With exclusive live shows, debates, and up-to-date coverage of counting statistics, broadcast news outlets are adopting various strategies to ensure dominance in the ratings game.

    The states which went to polls in the last month are West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Kerala, and the union territory of Puducherry. 

    List of channels that are covering election results 

    News channels in India, both regional and national will be extensively covering election result news on counting day. In West Bengal, the key players are News18 Bangla, Zee 24 Ghanta, TV9 Bangla and ABP Ananda. The recently launched Republic Bangla, an arm of Arnab Goswami’s Republic Media Network, will also devote its energies to election coverage.

    In Assam, the most popular news channels are News18 Assam/North East, DY365, and Assam Talks, while in Kerala, the election results will be reported by major players that include Asianet News, Manorama News, Mathrubhumi News, News18 Kerala, and 24 News. 

    When it comes to Tamil Nadu, Sun News is gearing up to broadcast the election results live to the audiences. Considering the popularity of the news channel in Tamil Nadu, most of the viewers are expected to tune in to this channel to get live election results. Interestingly, the stock of Kalanithi Maran-owned Sun TV jumped a little over 14 per cent ahead of the verdict on the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, from Rs 458 last week to Rs 519.30 by the end of Thursday. Some other news channels that will telecast Tamil Nadu legislative election results live are Jaya Plus, News18 Tamil Nadu, and Raj News. 

    Apart from these regional channels that cover election results in their respective states, national channels that include News18 India, ABP, Republic TV, News Nation, NDTV, and CNN will be broadcasting compiled live election results from various states. 

    News channels competing hard

    News18 India, in a recent statement, said that the channel will bring the fastest and most accurate results along with comprehensive coverage of the counting day beginning at 6 am. 

    “News18 India has set up a Live Result Hub which will leverage the strength of the channel’s on-ground team and reach. The channel’s team present across all the counting booths across the states will share live counting results which will be then collated and analysed at the Live Result Hub. The reportage on the channel will comprise a combination of live coverage from ground zero and in-studio discussions with renowned political analysts and commentators,” the channel said in the statement. 

    On 2 May, news shows, debates, and counting updates on News18 India will be anchored by Kishore Ajwani, Amish Devgan, and Prateek Trivedi. 

    Popular Hindi news channel ABP News aired its exit poll survey on 29 April. The channel has also set up an active team to cover all the counting day updates beginning at 6 am on 2 May. 

    News Nation has also planned several election special programs for counting day. Live telecast will begin at six in the morning with Faisla Aapka which means ‘Verdict is Yours’. 

    NDTV’s counting day coverage will also begin at 6 am, and news outlet has roped in several political leaders, observers, and analysts to participate in their news shows on the day. 

    Malayalam news channel Asianet News revealed that this will be its first hi-tech election coverage. Asianet News editor-in-chief MG Radhakrishnan said that the channel will use advanced possibilities of augmented eeality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies to bring the latest updates on the counting day. 

    “We will be the first in India to introduce our own ‘Follower’, a GFX tool by which the anchors with a device held in their hands can present a gamut of graphic displays. Besides, as always we have made elaborate arrangements to get the trend and results as quick as possible to our viewers. We go live from early morning with our reporters ready at the counting centres,” added Radhakrishnan. 

    Asianet News in association with C-Fore made live its post-poll survey results on 29 April. Manorama News, Mathrubhumi News and 24 News also have an extensive line-up of election coverage shows including live updates, debates and analysis sessions. 

    Legislative assembly elections 2021: All you need to know 

    In West Bengal, the ruling party Trinamool Congress (TMC) will lock horns with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a high voltage battle. Tamil Nadu, as always, will witness a tough battle between DMK and AIADMK. In this election, Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam is also eyeing to grab some seats. 

    Kerala is witnessing a tough election battle, as the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by incumbent chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is aiming to get a second term. However, the United Democratic Front (UDF) believes that there is a strong anti-incumbency factor in the state. 

    In Assam, the BJP and the Indian National Congress are going head to head, and recent post-poll predictions suggest that the saffron party is likely to retain power in the state. 

    The battle in Puducherry is between BJP and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) consisting of Congress, DMK, CPI, and VCK. 

  • Indian media not muzzled: BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli

    Indian media not muzzled: BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli

    NEW DELHI: Amidst the huge chatter of Indian media being biased and muzzled, BJP national spokesperson and Supreme Court advocate Nalin Kohli has claimed that the country has a robust media otherwise no channel or outlet would be running anti-BJP and anti-Modi stories. He was in a live webcast with Governance Now MD Kailashnath Adhikari during the Visionary Talk series held by the public policy and governance analysis platform. 

    Calling media as an important and fourth pillar of democracy the BJP senior leader said that media is free and vibrant in India what you see on social media is demonstrative of the right to freedom of speech. He refuted the charges that the media is muzzled and said that that media has been muzzled only once during emergencies. “Everybody remembers those days.”

    “If media was really muzzled then how are people using media to abuse prime minister, Narendra Modi and BJP government so openly and freely. I believe and am convinced that media is independent” said Kohli.  

    Kohli blaming the opposition for manufacturing issues and blaming the BJP government for stifling freedom of speech and said that it is a charge leveled against the BJP government without any foundation. “As the opposition, they have a right to manufacture issues. Unfortunately, issues are manufactured without foundation” he said.

    While responding to a question on how the government will regularize social media content, Kohli, who has also been convener of BJP’s national media cell said there is the issue of territorial jurisdiction when it comes to social media. He reiterated that that freedom of speech is an extremely valuable fundamental right under Article 19 of the Constitution but also puts reasonable restrictions on that freedom. He said that nothing can be beyond the constitutional framework and the best way is to self-regulate.

     “There is always a way to express yourself with civility and you cannot threaten anyone. To threaten a lady or her daughters with rape, obscenity, and abusive language is a reflection of an individual’s own self. If we forget to be civil, how can we have civilization” he asked.    

    “Freedom of speech does not mean curtailing other persons freedom by fear…because after Article 21 provides for life and liberty. If a person feels intimidated or stalked or threatened because of the exercise of freedom of speech of someone else that too needs to be reviewed.  We are reaching a point where these issues are being discussed. Perhaps they will be debated and over a period of time…some kind of framework may come, maybe self-regulation by the platform whether it would require a court to intervene, laws to come in…that’s a much larger debate’’ said Kohli.

  • India Today Group-Axis-My-India Exit Poll Hits Bull’s Eye in the Delhi Assembly Elections

    India Today Group-Axis-My-India Exit Poll Hits Bull’s Eye in the Delhi Assembly Elections

    NEW DELHI:  When India Today predicts election results, the country can rest assured that it has seen what others have missed.

    The India Today-Axis-My-India poll anticipated the AamAadmi Party's sweep in the February 8 vote, giving it between 59 and 68 seats in the 70-member Delhi Assembly. Its nearest rival, the BJP and its allies, were projected to get two to eleven seats and the Congress none.

    By Tuesday evening, the predictions turned out to be exceptionally accurate, with the AAP securing 62, the BJP around 8 and the Congress knocked out for a duck at time of writing.

    Once again, the India Today-Axis-My-India exit poll has delivered the most accurate picture of elections in the world's largest democracy.

    No other media outlet could forecast the results with as much precision.

    GOING BEYOND NUMBERS

    The India Today-Axis-My-India exit polls are meticulously accurate because the surveys go beyond the numbers.

    In Delhi, for instance, the pollsters measured voting behaviours, preferences and predispositions of the city's diverse demography.

    Like a thorough statistical exercise, the survey delved deeper into the voters' educational background, economic conditions, work, age-groups, caste, and religious affiliations.

    The same model was adopted in every exit poll — and the predictions have been astoundingly correct.

    Kalli Purie, Vice Chairperson, INDIA TODAY Group said, " Everytime we get a poll right the stakes get higher. This was our 5th poll bang on. The trust put in us by our viewers is a big responsibility and makes us work harder (and gives us many sleepless nights!). People keep asking me what's the secret sauce that even your bitterest competitor quote and copy your poll. The answer is simple. We wear glasses with no colour when we look at data. Data is always neutral. The partnership of the best data input from Axis and serious ground reporting from our team before every election has made this incredible feat possible. Having an unparalleled platform with the combined muscle of broadcast, digital and social also helps a little‼

    THE EARLER POLLS THAT THE INDIA TODAY AXIS MY INDIA GOT RIGHT

    JHARKHAND FORECAST

    The India Today-Axis-My-India exit poll forecast the fall of the BJP in Jharkhand, giving it 22-32 constituencies in the 81-seat state Assembly. The opposition alliance comprising the JMM, the Congress and the RJD were projected to secure 38 to 50 seats.

    The actual results were no different. The BJP won 25 and the opposition alliance 47 seats.
     
    HARYANA, MAHARASHTRA FORECAST

    In Haryana, the India Today-Axis-My-India forecast 32-44 for the ruling BJP. The survey foresaw the Congress ranks swelling in the range of 30-42 seats.

    The actual results delivered 40 seats to the BJP and 31 to the Congress.

    In Maharashtra, the BJP and the Shiv Sena, then in a pre-election alliance, together secured 161 seats, and the NCP-Congress 98, as predicted in the India Today-Axis-My-India exit poll.

    The Sena and the NCP-Congress eventually stitched a new alliance together to form the state government.

    INCREDIBLE TRACK RECORD

    Of all the elections that took place in India between 2013 and 2020 to date, India Today-Axis My India post-poll surveys have given the most accurate predictions in 95 per cent of the cases.

    Since 2013, Axis My India has conducted 40 post-poll surveys, of which 38 have been spot on. Since their association with India Today in 2016, the pollsters have predicted 35 elections, of which 33 turned out to be accurate.

    Conducting the largest exit poll for the world's largest democracy the 2019 general elections, the India Today-Axis My India exit poll, for instance, predicted 339-365 seats for the BJP-led NDA and 77-108 seats for the UPA in the new Lok Sabha. In actual results, the NDA got 352 and the UPA 92 seats in the lower house of parliament.

    Axis-My-India chief Pradeep Gupta attributes his successful predictions to team work and scientific monitoring of voter behaviour. "We follow international best practices. Our methodology is highly refined that helps us eliminate margins of error," he explained. "Our sampling is the most demographically and politically representative in any given election. There's zero tolerance for any compromise on quality. That's perhaps the reason why the Harvard Business School is doing a case study on Axis-My-India for the GE 2019 predictions."

  • India Today forecast — bang on, as always!

    India Today forecast — bang on, as always!

    NEW DELHI – Elections can be unpredictable for political parties. Their results aren't for the India Today Group.

    As every other media outlet faltered in its forecast of Haryana and Maharashtra elections, the India Today-Axis-My-India exit poll delivered the most accurate picture of around 11 crore voters in the two states.

    HARYANA

    Almost all other pollsters and TV stations were unanimous in predicting a sweep by the BJP in Haryana, led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

    But it was the India Today-Axis-My-India exit poll that hit the bull's-eye, forecasting anywhere between 32 and 44 for the ruling party. Based on face-to-face interviews with voters across 90 constituencies, with a sample size of 23,118, the India Today-Axis-My-India Today survey foresaw the Congress ranks swelling in the range of 30-42 seats, up from 15 five years ago.

    It gave the Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), a breakaway faction of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), between and six and ten seats.

    By Thursday evening, at time of writing, actual results were much the same as India Today's predictions — the BJP led successfully in 40, the Congress in 30 and the JJP in 10 constituencies.

    Other pollsters, however, weren't really able to capture the voter pulse in Haryana accurately. In its exit poll, Republic-Jan Ki Baat had given the BJP 52-63 and the Congress between 15 and 19 seats. According to News18-IPSOS, the ruling party was poised to secure 75 and the Congress 10. ABP-CVoter charts indicated 72 for the BJP and eight for the Congress. Times Now predicted 71 for Khattar's party and 11 for the Congress led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the Leader of Opposition,

    MAHARASHTRA

    In Maharashtra, the actual outcome came closest to the India Today-Axis-My-India's predictions for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance unlike several other pollsters forecasting a landslide for the ruling coalition.

    According to the India Today-Axis-My-India survey, the BJP-Sena alliance was projected to secure between 166 and 194 seats and the NCP-Congress combine from 72 to 90.

    By Thursday evening, election results at time of writing showed the ruling coalition leading successfully in 159 of the state's 288 constituencies and the NCP-Congress combine in 105.  

    Contrast this with exit polls executed by other players.

    Times Now had predicted 230 seats for the BJP-Shiv Sena and 48 for the NCP-Congress together. Republic-Jan Ki Baat had forecast 216-230 for the governing alliance and 52-59 for the opposition. The News18-IPSOS gave as high as 243 to the BJP-Shiv Sena and as less as 41 seats to the NCP-Congress alliance in Maharashtra.

    According to ABP-CVoter, the BJP-Sena were projected to win 204 and the opposition combine 69.

    "I think getting the exit poll right again, especially against popular belief, separates news channels from propaganda channels," said Kalli Purie, Vice Chairperson, India Today Group. "It's our approach on ground reporting and non-alignment that we were able to read data with a level of understanding. And doing it in Haryana elections, where the margin on so many seats was so slim, is a validation of the scientific and thorough approach of Axis," the Vice Chairperson said.

    INCREDIBLE TRACK RECORD

    Of all the elections that took place in India between 2013 and 2019, India Today-Axis My India post-poll surveys have given the most accurate predictions in 95 per cent of the cases.

    Since 2013, Axis My India has conducted 38 post-poll surveys, of which 36 have been spot on.

    Conducting the largest exit poll for the world's largest democracy the 2019 general elections, the India Today-Axis My India exit poll, for instance, predicted 339-365 seats for the BJP-led NDA and 77-108 seats for the UPA in the new Lok Sabha. The actual results weren't different — the NDA got 352 and the UPA 92 seats in the lower house of parliament.

    Axis-My-India chief Pradeep Gupta attributed his successful predictions to team work and scientific monitoring of voter behaviour. "We follow international best practices. Our methodology is highly refined that helps us eliminate margins of error," he explained. "Our sampling is the most demographically representative in any given election. We closely, and continuously, monitor voter mood and intent."