I&B ministry proposes to ban TV, newspaper exit polls

[sathish456]

The Information and Broadcasting ministry and the Law ministry proposes to ban all opinion and exit polls done by television news channels and newspapers during and ahead of assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

Minister H L Bhardwaj's proposal will come up before the cabinet for a decision on September 04, 2008. Officials said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had consulted leaders of all political parties, including leader of opposition L K Advani, before the law minister moved the proposal.

Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, Information and Broadcasting minister, sought application of the ban to internet based TV as well. If the proposal, now before the Union cabinet, becomes law, the publication or telecast of election-related opinion and exit polls will be banned. The ban will come into effect from the day an election is notified and will be in force till polling is completed.

The proposal envisages a ban on "publication or dissemination of opinion and exit polls results from the date of announcement of an election and will remain in operation till the last vote is cast."

"This is being done to prevent the media from influencing the outcome of voting in various phases of polling," explains an senior journalist of a TV news channel.

On receiving cabinet approval, home minister Shivraj Patil will move a bill to amend the Peoples' Representation Act. The bill may come up in the coming Parliament session beginning on October 14. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Jharkhand and Mizoram are scheduled to go in for elections by November.

Televisionpoint.com

[Dish]

If it happens then it will be big help for us.

[ANANT GUPTA]

But according to me exit polls, opinion polls by News Channels, Newspapers was also a great fun. So i feel that if exit polls, opinion polls are banned then element of a great fun will not be there.