CNN-IBN dropped its Bihar exit poll since it predicted landslide victory for Nitish Kumar’s Mahagathbandhan

New Delhi, Nov 7: Leading television news channel CNN-IBN chose not to air its exclusive exit poll on Bihar assembly elections despite promoting it for multiple hours. The decision was taken at the

New Delhi, Nov 7: Leading television news channel CNN-IBN chose not to air its exclusive exit poll on Bihar assembly elections despite promoting it for multiple hours. The decision was taken at the last moment by the editorial team. The outcome of the survey was shocking and contentious. It predicted a landslide sweep in favour of Nitish Kumar by suggesting that the Mahagathbandhan will win the elections by more than a 2/3rd majority.

The agency which conducted the poll, Axis-Ad-Print-Media (India) Limited had tied up with CNN-IBN ahead of the polls. However, since the channel decided not to air their prediction, it posted the results on its website. Mahagathbandhan, comprising of Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD and Congress are expected to emerge victorious on 169-183 seats, whereas BJP-led NDA is expected to win only 58-70 assembly segments.

According to CNN-IBN, the agency which conducted the survey refused to share the raw data with the channel which made turned them suspicious. The editorial team felt that the agency is making sensational claims only to grab eyeballs without concrete material. The agency, on the other hand, maintains that it had shared only the pre-poll survey data with CNN-IBN and the exit poll data was confidential. (ALSO READ: NDTV exit poll for Bihar elections: BJP led NDA to win 125 seats, Nitish Kumar’s grand-alliance to lose by thin margin)

It is worth recalling that Axis, the agency which has been rejected by CNN-IBN was the only one to predict a landslide victory in favour of Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi assembly elections. It has suggested AAP would win 53(+7-), whereas other media outlets did not predicted more than 45. On the day of results, the Arvind Kejriwal led faction emerged victorious by bagging 67 out of the 70 seats.