Assembly Elections Results 2014: The joke may be on TV channels

The joke may be on the TV channels this time when it comes to covering counting trends in J&K and Jharkhand, says our editor-in-chief R Jagannathan. Each channel has been flashing widely divergent numbers on the leads of various parties, suggesting that each one is getting different feeds at different points of time. It could also be an indicator of slim margins. [caption id=“attachment_1702269” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Reuters[/caption] In J&K, some channels show the BJP as the biggest party, and some the PDP. Only in Jharkhand are the trends consistent everywhere, but the BJP’s leads show a huge divergence – with BJP leads ranging from 35 to 53. NDTV is showing BJP is leading in Jammu and Kashmir with 24 seats, PDP leading in 18 seats. However, the channel shows that NC is ahead of PDP leading in 20 seats. Meanwhile, CNN-IBN shows BJP leading in 28 seats and PDP leading in 25 seats. NC is reportedly leading in 12 seats. Headlines Today shows both BJP and PDP leading in 22 seats, NC leading in 18 and Congress leading in 15 seats. According to Times Now, BJP is leading in 20 seats, PDP is leading in 17 seats. Meanwhile, Congress and NC are leading in 14 and 17 seats respectively.