Congress demands ban on opinion polls

Congress has written to Election Commission seeking restrictions on opinion polls or surveys ahead of elections. Switching its earlier position, Congress on Friday said it endorsed Election Commission’s proposal on restricting broadcasting of opinion polls during elections as the opinion polls are “erroneous”, “lack credibility” and  also “manipulative”.

Congress said that the credibility of opinion polls are questionable as neither it is scientific nor it has substance. Congress fears of misusing opinion polls by influencing people wrongly.

Last month Election Commission proposed ban on opinion polls.

In its letter EC said, “The Commission desires that the views of your political party on the proposal to prohibit conducting opinion polls and disseminating results thereof during the election period may be communicated to the Commission. This may kindly be done latest by October 21, 2013,”

Congress’s Legal and Human Rights Cell’s Secretary, KC Mittal wrote to EC saying that the opinion polls “are neither scientific nor is there any transparent process for such polls.” “In fact the opinion polls during election are neither scientific nor is there any transparent process for such polls,” he added.

He also said that these do not help in strengthening democratic institutions and more often than not are “erroneous” as they do not represent the views of the majority of the electorate.

“These are contrary to the basic electoral concept and process undertaken by the ECI in discharge of its obligations. As such we appreciate the initiative taken by ECI,” Mittal said.

At present, publishing of opinion polls have to be stopped before 48 hours of voting.

It is understandable why Congress has changed its earlier position. As media has been projecting huge defeat for in the coming Assembly elections in four states – MP, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Delhi – Congress has chosen to seek ban on it. But wondering what would have been the case if they were projected as winning party!

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