Other exit polls: Cong projected ahead

New Delhi: The Congress-led UPA has been projected to have an edge over NDA and others in the Lok Sabha elections which are expected to produce a highly-fractured verdict, exit polls on television news channels predict.

The results of the surveys, shown by the channels at the end of the fifth and final phase of polling in the month-long exercise, have placed the BJP-led NDA not very far behind the UPA and the Third Front at a little over 100 seats.

Headlines Today channel gave Congress and its allies 191 seats against 180 to BJP and its allies. The Left parties, which played a crucial role in the outgoing Lok Sabha with 60 seats, has been projected to get 38 while 'Others' including the BSP are set to get 134 in a House of 543.

In its projections, India TV channel said UPA would get between 195 seats and it could go up to 227 if 32 seats of RJD, LJP and SP are added. The channel has given NDA 189 and the Third Front 113. 'Others' are projected to get 14 seats.

Exit polls had been way off the mark in 2004 Lok Sabha polls, with most of them projecting BJP-led NDA as the winner which did not turn out to be correct. Ultimately, in 2004 elections the Congress and its pre-poll allies got 216 seats against a projection ranging from 170 to 205 seats. The BJP-led NDA had secured 187 seats against the projections of over 240 to 250 seats.

In the predictions by NewsX channel, the UPA has been projected to get 199 seats against 191 of NDA while the Third Front gets 104 and 'Others' 48. Congress alone is expected to get 155 and BJP two less.

UTVi channel gives UPA 195 and along with SP, LJP and RJD, it gets 227. The NDA has been given 189 seats and 'Others' 14.

In its projections, Times Now gave UPA 198 including 154 for Congress, and NDA getting 183 with 142 for BJP. The Third Front is likely to get 112 including 38 for the Left parties. 'Others' are projected to get 50 seats.

Star News channel put the tally for UPA at 199 with Congress alone expected to get 155. The NDA is tipped to get 196 including 153 for BJP and the Third Front 100. 'Others’ are expected to get 48 seats.