Lucknow: Publication and broadcasting of exit polls related to assembly elections have been banned in Uttar Pradesh from February 10 to March 7. Any person contravening this shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. This order has been taken by the Election Commission.
Ajay Kumar Shukla, Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh said that on the instructions of the Election Commission of India, any type of exit poll would be organized in the state during the period between 7:00 am on Thursday, February 10 and 06:30 pm on Monday, March 7. and the publication or publicity of its result by print or electronic media or in any other manner shall be prohibited.
Two years imprisonment for violating the order
The Chief Electoral Officer stated that Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (abbreviated as the RP Act, 1951) stipulates that no person shall conduct an exit poll and the result of an exit poll, during such period publication or publicity through print or electronic media or in any other manner as may be notified by the Election Commission in this behalf. He said that any person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
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The Chief Electoral Officer said that in addition, it has also been directed that during the period of 48 hours ending with the time fixed for the conclusion of polling in the respective polling areas of the general elections, any opinion poll or The display of any election-related matter including the results of any other poll shall be prohibited.
