Don’t show exit polls disguised as opinion polls, says EC
17 April 2014 1:04 AM GMT
Taking note of opinion polls telecast by a media house after elections for 111 Lok Sabha seats were conducted, the EC has issued an advisory to all media houses.
Referring to Section 126A of the Representation of the People’s Act, the EC has asked all media houses not to follow exit poll in the name of opinion poll. The EC said they should respect Section 126A of the Representation of the People’s Act.
The EC said few TV channels went on air with their opinion polls on 14 April, which included results of 111 Lok Sabha constituencies where balloting had taken place. ‘The prohibited period for this purpose is explained as the period may commence from the beginning of the hours fixed for poll on the first day of poll and continues till half an hour after closing of the polling in all the States and Union Territories,’ the statement read.
It further said, ‘To maintain level playing field and to ensure free and fair elections, the Commission advises all print and electronic media not to resort to the type of practice as mentioned above, which for all practical purposes mean publication of exit poll while claiming that the same is only an opinion poll.’ The polls shown by NDTV on both its Hindi and English channels showed the BJP-led National democratic Alliance getting 275 seats, three more than needed to form the government.
Referring to Section 126A of the Representation of the People’s Act, the EC has asked all media houses not to follow exit poll in the name of opinion poll. The EC said they should respect Section 126A of the Representation of the People’s Act.
The EC said few TV channels went on air with their opinion polls on 14 April, which included results of 111 Lok Sabha constituencies where balloting had taken place. ‘The prohibited period for this purpose is explained as the period may commence from the beginning of the hours fixed for poll on the first day of poll and continues till half an hour after closing of the polling in all the States and Union Territories,’ the statement read.
It further said, ‘To maintain level playing field and to ensure free and fair elections, the Commission advises all print and electronic media not to resort to the type of practice as mentioned above, which for all practical purposes mean publication of exit poll while claiming that the same is only an opinion poll.’ The polls shown by NDTV on both its Hindi and English channels showed the BJP-led National democratic Alliance getting 275 seats, three more than needed to form the government.
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