Don't run away, face defeat: Amit Shah mocks Congress's decision to boycott Exit Polls

The saffron party hopes for a historic third term helmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Following an announcement by senior Congress leader Pawan Khera ahead of the last phase of polling, both BJP chief JP Nadda and the party's chief strategist and Union Minister Amit Shah said it was obvious that the Opposition has conceded defeat.

In a Hindi post on X, formerly Twitter, Union Minister Amit Shah said, "Congress has come to know about its huge defeat, so with what face will it face the media and the public now? Therefore, Congress is running away from the exit polls. I want to tell the Congress party not to run away, face the defeat and introspect."

Objecting to Congress decision, Nadda, in a post on X, said: "It doesn't behove India's Grand Old Party to behave like a child, whose toy has been taken away. One expects a certain level of maturity from the largest political party in the Opposition".

The Congress, he said, "opts out" when it doesn't expect the results to go in its favour. But the party, he added, shows up if it thinks it has even an outside chance.

"Their hypocrisy is not lost on anyone. Let no one in Phase 7 waste their votes on them," he said

He also said that by boycotting the Exit Poll exercise, Congress questioned the rigorous exercise carried out by several professional agencies working day and night to compile the figures.

Earlier in the day, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said once the voting is over, nothing can be gained through speculation.

"Voters have cast their votes and the voting results have been locked in the machines. The results will be out on June 4. In the eyes of the Indian National Congress, there is no justification in participating in the TRP game by making any kind of public speculation before the results are announced.

"The purpose of any debate is to enlighten the audience. The Congress Party will gladly participate in debates again from June 4," Khera said in a statement shared on X.

In the last phase of the mammoth Lok Sabha election, polling is scheduled in 57 seats across 8 states and UTs including Bihar, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The counting of votes will take place on June 4.