The Election Commission today banned exit polls till March 3, till the completion of assembly elections in five states of Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur.
In a notification issued today, it also banned release of opinion polls in any manner on electronic media under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 during period of 48 hours, counted backwards from close of poll, in each phase.
While the ban on exit polls would apply to both the electronic and print media till 5:30 pm on March 3, the ban on opinion polls will only apply to electronic media.
The EC clarified, "...There is no ban on opinion poll in print media as Section 126 of Representation of the People Act 1951, does not apply to print media."
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app