After general elections, people and political parties eagerly await predictions from various media organizations to get an idea of how the election turned out before the votes are counted. The stock markets can also react strongly, as seen the day before the Lok Sabha election results were announced on June 4.
Predicting poll results is difficult and requires a lot of resources, manpower, and proper methodology to gather and analyze impartial data. However, social media has allowed anyone to become a pollster and share predictions without proper surveys or data. Some may be affiliated with political parties or conducting biased surveys for payment.
This trend has led to confusion and misinformation in society, with exit polls often being inaccurate. It is important to establish standard parameters and methodologies for conducting exit polls and surveys to ensure accuracy. Experts suggest that the government should consider regulating social media to address these issues.
Many exit polls predicted a strong victory for the BJP-led NDA, but the actual results came as a surprise. The unexpected outcome caused a sudden drop in the stock market, resulting in significant losses for investors. It is crucial to have experienced data analysts using scientific methods to conduct surveys and provide explanations if predictions are incorrect.