Rashtriya Lok Dal has demanded a ban on opinion polls being aired on different news channels with an immediate effect.
In the statement, RLD national secretary Anil Dubey said he had handed over a memorandum of demand to the chief election officer.
He said the announcement of UP assembly election was made on January 8 and nomination for the second phase of election was underway despite this some news channels were airing opinion polls related to the election and this way they were affecting the transparency and objectivity of the polls.
Dubey said the news channels were creating confusion among the voters by their opinion polls and this was a clear violation of the model code of conduct.
“The opinion polls shown by the news channels are presenting unethical things and violating the model code of conduct. This may influence the voting trend and the very aim of ensuring free and fair elections will be defeated,” he said.
The RLD leader said the Election Commission of India should immediately ban opinion polls to ensure free and fair polls.