The Election Commission, EC, once again asked the government to enact a law banning the release of opinion poll results after the notification of elections. The Commission had written a letter to Law Ministry in this regard. Of the 15 national and regional parties, which had sent in their views, only the Bharatiya Janata Party is against any restriction on the conduct of or dissemination of the results of opinion polls. BJP maintains that restriction would affect the fundamental right to freedom and expression guaranteed by the Constitution.

The parties favouring a ban include the Congress, the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Samajwadi Party, the Janata Dal (United), the AIADMK, the DMK, and the DMDK. The Trinamool Congress said it had no comments to offer on the issue and would abide by the EC’s decision.

The Congress, in its written response to the EC, said opinion polls during election are neither scientific nor is there any transparent process for such polls.

The CPI (M) is of the view that the results should not be published during a reasonable period before the date of polling and till half hour after the conclusion of poll in all constituencies.

AIR correspondent reports that Law 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.