<span style="color: #222222;">The Election Commission today announced a ban on exit polls on polling day for Haryana and Maharashtra assembly election.<br />''<br />'' The ban will be effective from seven in the morning to 6.30 in the evening on 21st of this month when the two states will go to poll. It will also be applicable for by-polls in 51 Assembly seats in 17 states. </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' In its order, the Commission said there will be restrictions on the conduct of any exit poll and publication and dissemination of result of such exit polls during the period. The displaying of any election matter, including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media, will also be prohibited during the period of 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for conclusion of polls.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Election Commission has also barred the political parties and candidates in Maharashtra and Haryana assembly polls from publishing advertisements in newspapers on polling day and one day prior to it without its approval. The voting in the two states will take place on the 21st of this month and the results will be announced on 24th October</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Commission has asked them to get the advertisements pre-certified from the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee at the state and district levels before their publication. The poll body said the decision has been taken in view of past instances of advertisements of offending and misleading nature in print media on such occasions which vitiate the elections. </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' In its direction to the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra and Haryana, the Commission asked to issue directions to all political parties, candidates and newspapers in this regard. </span><br />''  <br />