With elections completed in 361 out of 543 constituencies, all but one of the exit polls conducted on behalf of leading television news channels immediately after Wednesday's polling show the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) falling just short of the majority mark of 272.

A New Delhi Television-Indian Express exit poll said the NDA looks likely to win 245-265 seats in Parliament. That puts it well ahead of its opponents, Congress and allies with 182-205 seats, and other parties 90-110.

Popular channel Aaj Tak forecasts 268 seats for NDA, 175 for Congress-led alliance and 102 for others.

Star News exit poll was the only prediction that gives NDA a slender majority with 270-282 seats. It gives Congress and allies 167-179 seats and 87-99 to others.

Zee News in collaboration with Taleem Research Foundation exit poll says BJP and allies are likely to end up with 267 seats, while Sahara News-DRS allows NDA to have 263 berths. The Zee News and Sahara News projected 187 and 183 seats for Congress-led combine.

But all the exit polls suggested that the NDA has made gains in the penultimate phase of poll, especially in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and electorally-rich Uttar Pradesh that has the highest 80 seats.

After the exit polls, BJP central leadership held a meeting at the residence of its President M Venkaiah Naidu yesterday to review the progress and map out strategy for the final lap of election on May 10 when 182 constituencies go to poll across 16 states and federally-ruled territories.

Emerging from the meeting, Naidu told reporters NDA is confident of victory with convincing majority.

"The outcome of the election is un-contested. The NDA under the leadership of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will run the last mile like a marathon runner and register a spectacular victory."

Analysts say if exit polls are to believed then even in the best case scenario for Congress and allies, NDA will emerge as the biggest parliamentary group and could attract the backing of regional parties thriving on anti-Congress politics and some fence-sitters.

The battle for 83 seats in Wednesday's race was very crucial for BJP in a region -- the Hindi-speaking states -- which often determine which party will rule India. Of the 83 seats, 79 were in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The five-phase elections that began April 20 will end Monday, with ballot-counting to start May 13.