Election Commission asks govt to enact law banning opinion polls release

The Election Commission (EC) has asked the government again to enact a law to ban the release of opinion poll results after the notification of elections.

A letter to this effect has been sent to the Ministry of Law and Justice.

Fourteen of the fifteen national and regional parties are in favour of the ban. Only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not in favour of any restriction on the conduct of, or dissemination of opinion poll results, as it maintains that any restriction would affect the fundamental rights to freedom and expression as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.

The Trinamool Congress has said it had no comments to offer on the issue and would abide by the commission's decision.

It maybe recalled that the Union Law and Justice Ministry had in September asked the commission for its view on whether the ban on opinion polls should be effective from the date of announcement or notification of an election.

It had also asked the commission to hold fresh consultations with all recognised political parties on the issue of banning opinion polls so that the necessary legislation may be moved.