The electoral landscape of West Bengal is set to witness a high-stakes battle, with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) facing a stiff challenge from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In this intricate dance of power, exit polls have emerged as a crucial barometer, offering a glimpse into the voting patterns and preferences of the state's electorate. At the forefront of this exit poll frenzy is Today's Chanakya, which has boldly predicted a resounding victory for the BJP, projecting a whopping 192 seats (plus or minus 11) for the party, as against the TMC's 100 seats (plus or minus 11) in the 294-member assembly. This staggering margin of 92 seats underscores the BJP's perceived strength in the state, with the party poised to capture a significant chunk of the electoral pie.

However, News 18's exit poll paints a slightly different picture, with the BJP and TMC locked in a neck-and-neck battle, each likely to bag around 143 to 163 seats. This discrepancy in projections highlights the complexities of the West Bengal electoral dynamics, where regional parties, caste equations, and historical loyalties continue to play a significant role. It is worth noting that both Today's Chanakya and News 18 have forecast a slim margin of victory for the BJP, with the party expected to secure around 44% of the votes, as against the TMC's 43%.

The Tamil Nadu poll scenario presents a contrasting narrative, with Today's Chanakya projecting a decisive victory for the DMK-led alliance, likely to clinch 125 seats in the 234-member assembly. The actor Vijay-led Tamil Vaathi Kola (TVK) is seen as a potential game-changer, possibly nudging the AIADMK-BJP combine to the third position. This twist in the Tamil Nadu poll narrative underscores the unpredictable nature of regional politics, where local factors and personal equations can significantly influence the outcome.

Axis My India, another prominent pollster, has opted out of releasing its West Bengal forecast due to an 'exceptionally high non-response rate', with approximately 70% of approached voters declining to participate in the survey. This unprecedented refusal rate has introduced a high degree of non-response bias, making it challenging to accurately gauge the voting intentions of the state's electorate. This decision highlights the limitations of exit polls, which, despite their predictive value, are not infallible and can be influenced by various extraneous factors.