On Saturday (13th April), several I.N.D.I. alliance leaders and their supporters shared a purported survey claiming that it was conducted by Nielsen along with Hindi news daily Dainik Bhaskar. They claimed that the “Nielsen-Dainik Bhaskar” survey predicts a major victory for the I.N.D.I. alliance giving it 326 seats in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.
The Chairperson of the Congress party’s South Indian Cell and Maharashtra Congress Committee member, Lakshmi Nair shared the so-called survey to boast about the victory for the opposition bloc. In her long post, she shared the region-wise breakdown from the said survey claiming that the saffron party will be wiped out from Delhi, and will survey major losses in states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, etc.
Nielsen-Dainik Bhaskar survey shows 'INDIA' alliance's strong hold in South India, projecting a win in 128 out of 134 constituencies. Alliance's growing influence marks a notable shift in the region's political dynamics ahead of parliamentary elections.
— Lakshmi Nair 🇮🇳 (@LakshmiINC) April 13, 2024
Nielsen-Dainik Bhaskar… pic.twitter.com/c1uKEwEyyI
As per the image shared, the first page of Dainik Bhaskar’s Bhopal edition on 13 April carried the ‘Nielsen-Dainik Bhaskar survey’ in its lead news, showing a victory for INDI Alliance. It also carried state-wise breakup of the survey results, showing the opposition bloc ahead of NDA in several states.
#INDIAAlliance ஆட்சியை கைப்பற்றுகிறது!
— Surya Born To Win (@Surya_BornToWin) April 13, 2024
நீல்சன் – டைனிக் பாஸ்கர் கருத்துக்கணிப்பின்படி, நாடுமுழுவதுமுள்ள 543 நாடாளுமன்றத் தொகுதிகளில்,#INDIAAlliance – 326
பா.ஜ.க #NDA – 194
மற்றவை – 23
இடங்களையும் கைப்பற்றும் எனவும்
தென் இந்தியாவில் முழுவதும் இந்தியா கூட்டணி வெற்றி பெரும்… pic.twitter.com/wW5YYiodoh
The Hindi report claimed that INDI Alliance is sweeping the polls in the southern states, and making significant gains in the current BJP-ruled states. The survey predicts that if votes were held today, INDI Alliance would win 326 seats, NDA would win 194 seats and 23 seats would be won by others.
#INDIAAlliance projected to win 326 seats in upcoming parliamentary elections, per Nielsen-Dainik Bhaskar survey!#NDA expected to secure 194 seats!
— 🅰️rcher…🏹🌈💃💃💃 (@gandhimohanr12) April 13, 2024
'INDIA' alliance poised for transformative change in Indian politics!#Vote4INDIA #LokSabaElection2024 @INCIndia @arivalayam https://t.co/zhIhcaumsQ
However, the entire newspaper clipping is fake, and Dainik Bhaskar didn’t publish such a survey on 13 April.
When the purported survey with the masthead of Hindi news daily Dainik Bhaskar started doing rounds on social media, the newspaper came out publicly to dispel misinformation and categorically pointed out that it was a Fake Survey. The newspaper also demanded strict action against those who are spreading fake news in its name.
At around 2 PM on 13th April, Dainik Bhaskar tweeted, “#FakeNews: This survey is fake, which has been prepared by some anti-social elements… Dainik Bhaskar does not claim any such content… Strict action should be taken against such people.” They also tagged the Election Commission of India while sharing the cutout of the Fake survey.
#FakeNews : यह सर्वे फेक है, जिसे कुछ असामाजिक तत्वों ने तैयार किया है… दैनिक भास्कर ऐसे किसी भी कंटेंट का दावा नहीं करता है… ऐसे लोगों पर सख्त कार्रवाई होनी चाहिए#DainikBhaskar #ElectionCommission @ECISVEEP pic.twitter.com/ahKD5dFWQC
— Dainik Bhaskar (@DainikBhaskar) April 13, 2024
Later in the day, the National Editor of the Hindi Newsdaily, LP Pant announced that the newspaper would be taking action against fake news peddlers. Responding to a tweet by journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta posting the fake survey, he wrote, “Sir, Dainik Bhaskar has not conducted any such survey. A fake survey has been conducted using Bhaskar’s masthead. You should also check its authenticity before sharing it. Dainik Bhaskar will take legal action on your post.”
महोदय,
— LP Pant (@pantlp) April 13, 2024
दैनिक भास्कर ने ऐसा कोई सर्वे नहीं करवाया है। भास्कर मास्टहेड का इस्तेमाल कर फर्जी सर्वे चलाया गया है। आपको भी शेयर करने से पहले इसकी प्रामाणिकता जांच लेनी चाहिए। दैनिक भास्कर आपकी इस पोस्ट पर कानूनी कार्रवाई करेगा। https://t.co/0zWOm7uK8w
Paranjoy Guha Thakurta deleted the tweet after the response by LP Pant, but most other tweets posting the fake survey remain online.
It is pertinent to note that several I.N.D.I. alliance supporters continued to peddle the fake survey even after the newspaper categorically called it out as fake news.
The official spokesperson of Congress Telangana, Hyderabad, Asma shared the survey at around 8:16 PM, hours after the newspaper had pointed out that the said survey was fake.
A clear edge to Congress in 10 states.
— Asma (@asmatasleem13) April 13, 2024
Survey by Dainik Bhaskar-Nelson:
The Indian Alliance is in the lead in ten states and has the potential to pass 200 in just these ten. Modi's reputation is insufficient to win the BJP votes, even in the states that make up the Hindi… pic.twitter.com/ovIBqBPcOh
Dainik Bhaskar-Nelson Survey:
— Washim Congress Sevadal (@SevadalWHM) April 13, 2024
In 10 states INDIA alliance is leading & could cross 200 in these 10 states alone.
Even in the Hindi heartland states, Modi's image is not enough to get votes for the BJP.
NDA is looking at washout from Bihar, Bengal & Maharashtra.#BJPbelow180 pic.twitter.com/dDdIhGmb0b
Dainik bhaskar survey has predicted a huge victory for India bloc in Maharashtra, bihar, Karnataka, telangana,
— Rahul Wagh (@iamrahulwagh) April 13, 2024
TamilNadu, Kerala.
A Huge come back in Up & Rajasthan #LokSabaElection2024 pic.twitter.com/0CTprWiCgk
Additionally, the official Twitter Account of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Sevadal shared the fake survey at around 7:23 PM.
नीलसन दैनिक भास्कर सर्वे में 10 राज्यों इंडिया गठबंधन आगे।
— Uttar Pradesh Congress Sevadal (@SevadalUP) April 13, 2024
अभी तो शुरुआत है अंत तक बीजेपी एनडीए का अंत हो जाएगा।#BJPTadiPaar pic.twitter.com/ta90J6nAnJ
Dainik Bhaskar-Nelson Survey:
— Nilesh Malode (@Nilesh_INC) April 13, 2024
In 10 states INDIA alliance is leading & could cross 200 in these 10 states alone.
Even in the Hindi heartland states, Modi's image is not enough to get votes for the BJP.
NDA is looking at washout from Bihar, Bengal & Maharashtra.#BJPTadiPaar… pic.twitter.com/BAgVhn9SMC
Similarly, Congress functionary and Cyber Security Researcher Nilesh Malode also shared the fake survey at around 8:15 PM.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the CSDS-Lokniti 2024 pre-poll survey has predicted a third term for the Modi government asserting that there is no contender close to the BJP as it holds a massive 12% lead over the opposition bloc.
