EC bans opinion, exit polls by media

With a day left for the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission today banned dissemination of results of opinion and exit polls by the media.

The ban comes into effect from 1500 hours today and has been brought in the wake of a Supreme Court order, the EC announced.

The EC had earlier issued guidelines which had made it clear that results of opinion and exit polls carried out any time "cannot be published, publicised or disseminated in any manner, during the period starting from 48 hours before the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in the first phase."

The ban would remain in force till the conclusion of poll in the last phase of elections, the EC said. The last phase of polling is on May 13 and the counting of votes is on May 16.

Acting on the Supreme Court order, the Commission had issued detailed guidelines on February 17 for publication and dissemination of results of opinion and exit polls.

The ban applies to electronic media including radio and television both government owned and private and covers satellite, DTH, terrestrial and cable channels.  Dissemination included publication in any newspaper, magazine or periodical or display on electronic media or circulation by means of any pamphlet, poster, placard, handbill or any other document, the guidelines said.