EC bans exit polls from February 10 to March 7

The Election Commission(EC) on Saturday banned exit polls between 7 am on February 10 to 6.30 pm on March 7 in relation to the upcoming Assembly elections in five states.

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission(EC) on Saturday banned exit polls between 7 am on February 10 to 6.30 pm on March 7 in relation to the upcoming Assembly elections in five states.

"Now, therefore, in the exercise of the powers under sub-section (1) of Section 126 A of the R. P Act 1951, the Election Commission having regard to the provisions of sub-Section (2) of the said section, hereby notifies the period between 7 am on 10 February 2022 (Thursday) and 6.30 pm on 7 March 2022 (Monday), as the period during which conducting any exit polls and publishing and publicizing by means of the print or electronic media or dissemination in any other manner whatsoever, the result of any exit poll in connection with the aforesaid General Elections shall be prohibited," EC stated in its order.

It also prohibited displaying any election matter including results of any opinion poll or any other survey during the period of 48 hours till the conclusion of polls in the respective polling areas in connection with the general elections.

"It is further clarified that under Section 126(1)(B) of the R P Act, 1951, displaying any election matter including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media, would be prohibited during the period of 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for conclusion of polls in the respective polling areas in connection with General Elections," the order stated.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued during the day, the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh Ajay Kumar Shukla said that any person who violates the order will be punished with a two-year jail term or fine or sometimes both.

With agency inputs