Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan refuses to accept exit polls projecting Left's imminent defeat by UDF, opines that 'Sabarimala issue won't impact result'

Following the projections of the Exit Polls for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday rejected the predictions of the exit polls, adding that the Sabarimala issue will not impact the poll result in the state.

Addressing a press briefing a day after the exit polls, the CPI(M) (Communist Party of India (Marxist)) leader declared that his party is going to win big in the polls. 

We are getting close to the result date. Let's not speculate on the numbers. Many Exit polls have gone wrong in the past. In 2004, many polls projected a second term for NDA but when the result for came it was a different story. So now let's not speculate, we can wait till 23rd. There is no concern about our performance in Kerala. We are going to win big," he said addressing the briefing. 

In a veiled jibe at the BJP and the Congress party, the Kerala CM further said "all of us know who created trouble in the Sabarimala issue".

"Sabarimala will not have any impact in Kerala. All of us know, who created trouble in Sabarimala matter," he added. 

The Sabarimala temple and areas surrounding it witnessed a series of protests last year around October, following the Supreme Court's verdict to quash the restrictions on the entry of young women between 10 and 50 years in the sanctum sanctorum of the Lord Ayyappa temple to offer prayers.

READ | 36-years-old Kerala Woman Activist Dyed Her Hair Grey, Claims She Entered Sabarimala Temple

Kerala sends 20 members to the Lok Sabha, with the main contest between the Left and Congress-led UDF (United Democratic Fron) in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Republic Double Exit Polls in collaboration with the Cvoter and Jan Ki Baat exit polls project that the trend would repeat where the major players remain to be the Congress and the Left parties, with the Congress-led UDF likely to be taking the lead. In the 2014 elections, the UPA had won 12 seats while LDF had won 8 Kerala. 

Republic Double Exit Poll For Kerala: UPA Projected To Deliver Big Blow To Left Says CVoter, BJP May Get Its Name On The Scoreboard Says Jan Ki Baat