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...

min read

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.)

Yoga for One World, One Health

Shraddha Deshpande
Jun 20, 2025
3 min read

This year, the theme for International Yoga Day—"Yoga for One World, One "Health"—beautifully reflects what yoga truly stands for: a bridge that connects individuals to themselves, to each other, and the world. In today’s times, when physical and mental health are under so much pressure, yoga offers a universal solution. It brings us back to balance, reminding us that true well-being isn’t just about personal health but about harmony within communities and with nature.

Yoga is a practice that belongs to everyone, everywhere. And I truly believe that when one person heals through yoga, the ripple effects can touch the world. With that spirit, I’m beginning this article series—“Yoga Transformation Journey”—to share my own experiences, challenges, and learnings and to hopefully inspire others to explore yoga as a path to healing and transformation.

In our fast-paced world, staying physically fit and mentally calm often feels like an impossible task. I’ve been there—caught in the daily chaos, neglecting my body and mind until one day, life forced me to stop and take notice.

In 2005, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and within a few months, it took over my life. I had severe stiffness in all major joints, and I became nearly immobile. Everyday tasks—walking, climbing stairs, and driving—felt impossible. It was one of the lowest points in my life.

Alongside medical treatments, I began practising yoga—very slowly, very gently. It wasn’t easy. At times, it felt like I was learning how to move all over again. But day by day, breath by breath, yoga helped me heal. It took almost two years, but I gradually regained my mobility. What started as a physical routine slowly unfolded into something much deeper.

Physical Relief to Academic Exploration

In the beginning, yoga was just a tool to ease my pain. But over time, my curiosity grew. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when everything shifted online, I found the time and space to study yoga more seriously. I cleared the yoga teacher, therapist, and examiner exams conducted by the Ministry of AYUSH.

Encouraged by this progress, I enrolled in a master’s in yoga studies during the lockdown, and now I’m pursuing a Ph.D. in the same field. These academic journeys have deepened my understanding and opened new avenues—not just for teaching, but for truly living yoga.

One of the most transformative parts of my journey has been studying Patanjali’s Yogasutras. These ancient teachings are so much more than philosophy—they’re a guide for life.

Patanjali outlines a clear path that moves us from suffering to inner peace, from confusion to clarity, and eventually to liberation (Kaivalya). His four chapters—Samadhi, Sadhana, Vibhuti, and Kaivalya—show how yoga evolves from physical practice to deep spiritual awareness.

Through this lens, yoga becomes a journey not just for the body, but for the soul.

What Yoga Really Means

The word 'yoga' comes from the Sanskrit root 'yuj', meaning ‘to unite’. To me, yoga is the union of my breath, my body, and my awareness. It’s a space where I connect with something bigger than myself.

Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga—the eight-limbed path—is a beautiful map that guides us through:

Yama (social ethics)

Niyama (personal discipline)

Asana (posture)

Pranayama (breath)

Pratyahara (sense withdrawal)

Dharana (focus)

Dhyana (meditation)

Samadhi (absorption)

These limbs are not just steps—they’re companions on the path to self-realisation.

Yoga’s Transformative Power

Today, yoga is my anchor. It’s what keeps me grounded, energised, and inspired. Through regular practice, I’ve gained:

Physical strength and flexibility

Mental peace and clarity

Emotional balance

And most importantly, a sense of purpose

The WHO has already highlighted how chronic stress leads to multiple health problems. Yoga, with its focus on breath, mindfulness, and inner awareness, is one of the best antidotes I’ve ever found.

My life has changed completely—from being a person in pain to someone who now teaches, studies, and lives yoga every day. And if I could walk this path, I truly believe anyone can.

Yoga is so much more than exercise—it’s a way of living. It’s a journey from the outer to the inner, from limitation to liberation. My transformation—from someone struggling with rheumatoid arthritis to becoming a yoga educator and Ph.D. researcher—is living proof of yoga’s healing power.

I invite you to walk with me on this journey. Let’s explore yoga not just for our personal health, but for the health of our families, communities, and our one shared world.

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

1 Comment

Jayashree Jagdale

Jun 21, 2025

Well written. So much to learn!