The Election Commission (EC) has triggered a fresh debate by renewing its demand to ban opinion polls. In a letter written to the Ministry of law and Justice, the EC has requested the Centre to implement the proposal as 13 political parties, including the Congress, had given their consent to impose a ban on opinion polls. If the ban is implemented, it will be applicable from the date elections are notified.
The BJP was the lone party to oppose the ban. The EC recorded that the party said the ban would be a restriction on the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression. Surveys conducted by various TV channels have so far projected growing support for the NDA combine. The EC’s letter, issued early this week, recorded the version given by 15 political parties who responded to the poll panel’s request to give their views on banning opinion polls.
Five national parties and ten regional parties replied to the EC after the law Ministry had asked the commission to hold fresh consultations with national parties to elicit their views on the issue. In its letter, the EC cited the all-party meeting held on April 6, 2004, where all parties, including the BJP, unanimously supported a ban on opinion polls.
“The political parties were then (2004) of the unanimous view that publishing the results of opinion polls should be prohibited from the date of notification of election.” The EC also got the backing of Attorney-General GE Vahanvati, who in his opinion to the commission had said: “What is paramount is the necessity to have free and fair elections. One cannot disagree with the view of the EC that such opinion polls often tend to cause a prejudicial effect on the minds of the electors.”
Prominent parties that followed the Congress to justify the ban included CPI-M, BSP, NCP, SP, AIADMK, DMK, JD-U, Shiv Sena and Akali Dal. Many political parties questioned the motives and financial incentives behind such polls, while others supported the ban by terming the polls as being unscientific and speculative. With all pre-poll surveys ahead of the Assembly polls in five States and lok Sabha elections next year loaded against the Congress, the BJP attacked the Congress saying that a “loser” had no right to alter the rules of the game.