CVOTER EXIT POLL : HIMACHAL 2012 Sample Size: 3276 Across 68 Assembly Segments TOP OF THE LINE RESULTS

Congress loses big Pre-Poll lead to a photo-finish; due late surge for BJP among Females voters. Congress leads 48 / 41 among Males voters BUT the BJP leads 47 / 40 among females voters. Historic Female turnout puts the BJP back in game; the Gender Gap is all time high. The overall vote share is a statistical tie and too close to call within the survey margin of error. Nevertheless, the Congress may get edge in the seats; just because of the uneven winning margins. BJP may carry Urban seats with huge margins; Congress more Rural seats but with small margins. The Cooking Gas Issue becomes the game changer affecting almost every 3rd Female voter. VOTE AND SEATS PROJECTIONS BJP 44% 44% 0% BJP 41 31 -10 YEAR HP 2007 HP 2012 SWING MARGIN +/-3% +/-4 2012 VOTE Vote Vote Seat Seat Seat INC 39% 44% 5% INC 23 34 11 Oth 17% 12% -5% Oth 4 3 -1 Total 100% 100% 0% Total 68 68 0

HIMACHAL

YEAR HP 2007 HP 2012 CHANGE

MARGIN

BJP

INC

Oth

Total

SEATS PROJECTION RANGE

27 to 35

30 to 38

1 to 5

68

GENDER GAP IN THE VOTE SHARE (EXIT POLL 2012) GENDER MALE FEMALE TOTAL YEAR PRE POLL EXIT POLL CHANGE MARGIN +/-3% +/-3% MARGIN +/-3% +/-3% VOTE Vote Vote VOTE Vote Vote BJP 41% 47% 44% BJP 43% 47% 4% INC 48% 40% 44% INC 42% 40% -2% Oth 11% 13% 12% Oth 15% 13% -2% Total 100% 100% 100% Total 100% 100% 0%

CHANGE IN FEMALE VOTES (SEPT VS NOVEMBER 2012)

TOP 5 ISSUES FOR FEMALE VOTERS AT THE TIME OF VOTING ISSUE Rising prices / Cooking Gas Issue Development Corruption Working of CM Work of MLA/ Local Candidate % 31 14 11 8 6