The Election Commission has banned the publication or broadcast of any exit poll during the assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat from November 4 to December 17. The Commission has also prohibited the display of any election matter in any electronic media, during the period of 48 hours ending with conclusion of Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

It has notified that the period between 8 AM on November 4, the first day of poll in Himachal Pradesh and 5.30 PM on December 17, the last day of poll in Gujarat, as the period, during which conducting any exit poll and publishing or publicising by means of the print or electronic media or disseminating in any other manner would be prohibited.

Our correspondent reports, Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, prohibits display of any election matter by means of television or similar apparatus, during the period of 48 hours till conclusion of poll in a constituency.