Amidst controversy surrounding exit polls, which predicted a landslide victory for the BJP-led NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Pradeep Gupta, the chief of Axis My India, has declared his openness to any investigations. The opposition, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, has accused the pollster of stock market manipulation using the exit polls, alleging that the market rose after the ‘fake’ polls and crashed on June 4th, the day of the Lok Sabha results. Gupta, in an interview with PTI, stated his willingness to face probes by both the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). He also emphasized his five-year-long advocacy for formulating regulations for pollsters. When asked about the calls to ban exit polls, Gupta argued that every citizen and organization desires knowledge of the election outcome, deeming a ban ineffective. He further clarified that Axis My India has no connection to the stock market. Gupta asserted that the allegations are beneficial as they provide an opportunity to demonstrate the foolproof nature of their data and systems. He welcomed investigations, stating they would showcase their methods and credentials to the world. Gupta also addressed accusations that Axis My India conducted exit polls for foreign investors, sharing different results with them. He strongly denied these claims, stating that neither they nor their organization have ever been approached by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) or conducted exit polls for them. Gupta explained that 70% of Axis My India’s clients are corporate entities, including prominent names like the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, denying any conflict of interest with their exit polls. He also expressed indifference towards a potential ban on exit polls, stating that it wouldn’t impact their business, adding that he adheres to the law and will abide by any decision. Gupta also highlighted his long-standing efforts to establish regulations for the pollster industry. He explained that for five years, he has been pursuing this objective, facing skepticism and distrust when his team conducts fieldwork. He stressed the need to convince people that they are not salespeople, fraudsters, or representatives of political parties.
