‘Exit polls were not reflective of the reality on the ground’

Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed said leaders of the opposition knew that exit polls showing a wide-margin of victory for Modi's alliance were not reflective of the reality on the ground.

"Of course, we always said that the opposition is going to do well in this election," Mohamed said. "You have to understand that there is a lot of unemployment in India, the price rise is huge."

 "There is the capture of various institutions for example," Mohamed added, referring to the opposition's allegations that Modi's government has consolidated power at key institutions, including the country's election commission.