CPI(M) circulating fake exit polls to hoodwink people

After sensing defeat in the West Bengal Assembly polls, the CPI(M) has allegedly started circulating fake exit poll results in the social media. Despite of the imposition of some restrictions on the exit poll by the Election Commission of India, various social media are flooded with the exit polls showing that the alliance between the CPI(M) and Congress may get more seats than Trinamool Congress.

Interestingly, in most of the cases it has been observed that the exit polls that are doing rounds in the social media in the state bears the names of some well known agencies/media houses. Many of the exit polls are projecting that the alliance may bag more number of seats than Trinamool Congress. The question arising here is who are circulating the exit polls at the time when the elections in the state are underway in various phases. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI) no media houses or agencies can publish exit polls till 6.30 pm on May 16 when the polls in others states would be over. The restriction was imposed by the Commission from April 4 when the first day of Phase I election was conducted in West Bengal.

The question that comes up on the mind of many people as what was the purpose of the posting the fake exit polls in the social media when it is banned by the Commission, that too when the elections are not yet over. Was it a matter of desperation for the Opposition parties to indulge in unethical practices to confuse the voters? Many people in the state have, however, alleged that some people are posting these fake results with a malicious intention. People supporting Trinamool Congress alleged that some CPI(M) leaders are trying to influence the voters in this manner after they sensed a defeat in the election. A recent exit poll result that appeared on social media showed that out of 294 assembly seats the CPI(M) — Congress alliance will get 191 while the Trinamool Congress will get 96, BJP 3 and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha will only manage to get 3.