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By:

Yogesh Kumar Goyal

19 April 2026 at 12:32:19 pm

The Exit Poll Mirage

While exit polls sketch a dramatic map of India’s electoral mood, the line between projection and verdict remains perilously thin. With the ballots across five politically pivotal arenas of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry falling silent until the results are announced on May 4, poll surveyors have filled the vacuum with exit poll numbers that excite, alarm and often mislead. These projections have already begun shaping narratives well before D-Day on May 4. If India’s...

The Exit Poll Mirage

While exit polls sketch a dramatic map of India’s electoral mood, the line between projection and verdict remains perilously thin. With the ballots across five politically pivotal arenas of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry falling silent until the results are announced on May 4, poll surveyors have filled the vacuum with exit poll numbers that excite, alarm and often mislead. These projections have already begun shaping narratives well before D-Day on May 4. If India’s electoral history offers any lesson, it is that exit polls illuminate trends, not truths. Bengal’s Brinkmanship Nowhere is the drama more intense than in West Bengal, arguably the most keenly watched contest among all five arenas. The contest for its 294 seats has long transcended the state’s borders, becoming a proxy for national ambition. Most exit polls now point to a striking possibility of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) majority, in some cases a commanding one. Such an outcome would mark a political earthquake. For decades, Bengal has resisted the BJP’s advances, its politics shaped instead by regional forces - first the Left Front, then Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC). Yet the arithmetic of the polls suggests that the BJP’s campaign built on organisational muscle and the promise of ‘parivartan’ (change) may have finally breached that wall. The TMC, meanwhile, appears to be grappling with anti-incumbency and persistent allegations of corruption. Still, one outlier poll suggests it could yet retain power, a reminder that Bengal’s electorate has a habit of confounding linear predictions. Here, more than anywhere else, the gap between projection and reality may prove widest. Steady Script If Bengal is volatile, the Assam outcome looks fairly settled. Across agencies, there is near unanimity that the BJP-led alliance is poised not just to retain power, but to do so comfortably. With the majority mark at 64 in the 126-member assembly, most estimates place the ruling coalition well above that threshold, in some cases approaching triple digits. The opposition Congress alliance, by contrast, appears stranded far behind. Under Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP has fused development rhetoric with a keen sense of identity politics, crafting a coalition that has proved resilient. A third consecutive term would underline the party’s deepening institutional hold over the state. Kerala, by contrast, may be returning to its old rhythm. For decades, the state has alternated power between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) with metronomic regularity. The LDF broke that pattern in the last election, securing an unprecedented second term. Exit polls now suggest that experiment may be short-lived. Most projections place the UDF comfortably above the 71-seat majority mark in the 140-member assembly, with the LDF trailing significantly. If borne out, this would reaffirm Kerala’s instinctive resistance to prolonged incumbency. Governance records matter here, but so does a deeply ingrained political culture that treats alternation as a form of accountability. Familiar Duel? Tamil Nadu, long dominated by its Dravidian titans, shows little appetite for disruption as per most exit polls, which place M.K. Stalin’s DMK-led alliance above the halfway mark of 118 in the 234-seat assembly. Yet, some sections have suggested a possible upset could be staged by actor Vijay’s TVK, the wildcard in the Tamil Nadu battle. Most polls, however, are clear that the opposition AIADMK alliance, though competitive, seems unlikely to unseat the incumbent DMK. In Puducherry, the smallest of the five contests, the implications may nonetheless be outsized. Exit polls give the BJP-led alliance a clear majority in the 30-seat assembly, relegating the Congress-led bloc to a distant second. Numerically modest, the result would carry symbolic weight. A victory here would further entrench the BJP’s presence in the south, a region where it has historically struggled to gain ground. For all their allure, exit polls are imperfect instruments. They rest on limited samples, extrapolated across vast and diverse electorates. In a country where millions vote, the opinions of a few thousand can only approximate reality and often fail to capture its nuances. There is also the problem of the ‘silent voter’ - individuals who either conceal their preferences or shift them late. Recent elections have offered ample reminders. In states such as Haryana and Jharkhand, and even in Maharashtra where margins were misjudged, exit polls have erred, and sometimes dramatically sp. Moreover, the modern exit poll is as much a media event as a methodological exercise. Packaged with graphics, debates and breathless commentary, it fills the void between voting and counting with a sense of immediacy that may be more theatrical than analytical. That said, to dismiss them entirely would be too easy. Exit polls do serve a purpose in sketching broad contours, highlighting regional variations and offering clues about voter sentiment. For political parties, they are early signals and act as tentative guides for observers. Taken together, this cycle’s exit polls suggest a broad, if tentative, pattern of the BJP consolidating in the east and north-east, and opposition alliances regaining ground in parts of the south, and continuity prevailing in key states. But patterns are not outcomes and only counted votes confer legitimacy. It is only on May 4 when the sealed electronic voting machines will deliver that clarity. They will determine whether Bengal witnesses a political rupture or a resilient incumbent, whether Assam’s stability holds, whether Kerala’s pendulum swings back, and whether Tamil Nadu stays its course. (The writer is a senior journalist and political analyst. Views personel.)

Asana in Classical Yoga: Preparing the Body for Higher Practice

Asanas are not just yoga poses but the groundwork upon which pranayama, meditation, and higher yogic disciplines rest.


In the modern world, yoga is often reduced to a set of physical stretches or fitness routines. However, this limited view overlooks the profound depth of yoga as a complete science of life. Yoga is not merely about shaping the body; it is a disciplined path that refines the body, steadies the mind, and ultimately awakens inner awareness. Maharshi Patanjali, the great yogic seer, systematised this ancient wisdom into the eightfold path known as Ashtanga Yoga—Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. Among these, Asana, the third limb, plays a pivotal role by preparing the physical body as a stable and sacred foundation for higher yogic practices. 


Asana is far more than a physical posture. It is a conscious, disciplined state of the body held with awareness, balance, and reverence. Ancient yogic philosophy regards the human body as a sacred instrument—a temple through which spiritual evolution unfolds. Therefore, asana is understood as a posture assumed with steadiness, alertness, and deep respect for the body’s innate intelligence. 


In the early stages of practice, asana may involve effort, discipline, and physical exertion. Over time, with regular and mindful practice, this effort gradually dissolves into ease and stability. Patanjali defines 'asana' with a timeless and profound sutra:


“स्थिरसुखमासनम्”

This sutra emphasises that an ideal posture is both steady and comfortable. Here, comfort does not mean indulgence or passivity; rather, it refers to a state free from strain, where the body is stable and the mind remains calm, alert, and inwardly focused.


The Hatha Yoga Pradipika further explains that the practice of asanas brings firmness to the body, health to the organs, and lightness to the entire system. Classical yogic texts consistently present yoga as a progressive inner journey—beginning with mastery over the body and culminating in mastery over the mind and realisation of the self.


The connection between body and mind is inseparable. Physical discomfort often disturbs mental peace, while unresolved mental stress frequently manifests as physical tension or disease. Through the systematic and conscious practice of asanas, this imbalance is gradually corrected. The muscles, joints, internal organs, endocrine glands, and nervous system are strengthened and harmonised, while mental restlessness begins to subside.


Regular asana practice enhances flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, circulation, and immunity. More importantly, it cultivates emotional stability, patience, and inner equilibrium. When the body becomes steady and free from discomfort, the practitioner gains the ability to sit comfortably for extended periods—an essential prerequisite for pranayama, meditation, and higher yogic disciplines. 


During the practice of asana, each posture is held for a specific duration with smooth, rhythmic breathing. Patanjali highlights that postures that allow the body to remain stable and relaxed for long periods are especially suitable for yogic practice. According to the Gheranda Samhita, there are symbolically 8.4 million asanas, representing the vast diversity of living forms, out of which 84 asanas are considered important for human practice.


Asanas make use of the full potential of the human body—its joints, muscles, flexibility, alignment, and relationship with gravity. Based on their purpose and functional nature, asanas are broadly classified into three main categories:


1. Meditative Asanas

These postures are designed to create a firm base, an erect spine, and symmetrical alignment, making them ideal for meditation and breath practices.


Examples include Padmasana, Siddhasana, Vajrasana, and Swastikasana.


2. Cultural (Dynamic) Asanas

These involve movement and are practised for strength, flexibility, and physiological balance. They are further classified according to body position:


Standing Postures: Tadasana, Trikonasana, Parshvakonasana, Vrikshasana


Seated Postures: Gomukhasana, Paschimottanasana


Prone Postures: Makarasana, Bhujangasana, Shalabhasana, Dhanurasana


Supine Postures: Pawanmuktasana, Uttanapadasana, Halasana, Chakrasana, Shavasana 


3. Balancing Asanas

These asanas cultivate physical balance along with mental focus, alertness, and discipline. Examples include Garudasana, Mayurasana, Bakasana, and Kukkutasana. 


Ultimately, asana is not merely about stretching muscles or strengthening the body. It is a disciplined yogic practice that harmonises posture, breath, and awareness. When performed with regularity, correct technique, and proper guidance, asanas prepare the practitioner for deeper yogic experiences such as pranayama, meditation, and self-inquiry.


Thus, asana stands as a vital gateway in the yogic path—bridging the physical and the spiritual. Through this essential limb, the practitioner begins a transformative journey from bodily awareness to inner stillness, balance, and self-knowledge.


(The writer is a yoga educator and researcher based in Pune. Views personal.)

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