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No need to ban exit polls, says Thakre

Bharatiya Janata Party president Kushabhau Thakre today said he did not favour any ban on opinion or exit polls.

''There is no need for ban or any debate on this issue as the Supreme Court had already given its decision on the matter,'', he told newsmen in Bhopal.

Asked whether he agreed that such opinion and exit polls could influence the voting pattern in the constituencies yet to go to polls, Thakre evaded a direct reply, saying that he was not an expert on such matters.

Replying to a question regarding his assessment about his party's prospects, the BJP president said the National Democratic Alliance would ''win hands down''. When pointed out that the exit polls were indicating the Congress improving its position, Thakre quipped: ''I don't think so''. The issue before the people was who should become the prime minister, he said, adding that this had reduced the communal, casteist and other such influences.

About the Janata Dal-United leaders' claim for chief ministership in the event of the alliance coming to power in that state, Thakre posed a counter question '' what is the hurry? let the results come out''. Asked whether the chief ministership should go to the alliance partner which secured the highest number of seats, he said it would be premature to say anything about it at this stage.

The BJP president said there were some initial problems as it was ''very late'' by the time the Lok Shakti and the Janata Dal merged. However, both the BJP and the Janata Dal-U worked for each others candidate in the elections, he added.

Thakre, who was in the Madhya Pradesh capital to cast his vote in the Lok Sabha constituency from where Union minister of state for sports and youth welfare Uma Bharti is seeking election, said his party's prospects in Madhya Pradesh were ''very bright''.

UNI

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