New Delhi, Oct 15 (UNI) The Election Commission on Tuesday announced a complete ban on exit polls from 0700 hours to 1830 hrs on October 21 during the Assembly polls in Haryana and Maharashtra, along with bypolls to 51 Assembly seats in 17 states.
The Commission has also banned publishing advertisements in print media on the day of polls and a day prior to the polls without the prior permission.
"No political party or candidate to publish any advertisement in Print Media on the day of poll and one day prior to poll in Haryana and Maharashtra, October 20 and 21, unless contents are pre-certified by Media Certification and Monitoring Committee", the poll body said in its order.
In another statement, the Commission said, "As per the provisions of Section 126A of The Representation of the People Act, 1951, there shall be restrictions on conduct of any exit poll and publication and dissemination of result of such exit polls during the period notified by the EC".
According to official spokesperson of the Commission, Sheyphali Sharan, "Displaying any election matter, including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media, would be prohibited during the period of 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for conclusion of polls in the respective polling areas in connection with aforesaid general elections and bye-elections".
Haryana and Maharashtra go to polls on October 21 and the results will be announced on October 24.
Along with these two states, by-elections to 51 Assembly constituencies in 17 states and two parliamentary constituencies, Satara in Maharashtra and Samastipur in Bihar, also will be held on same day.
Ban on exit poll is applicable on these elections too, said the the poll body.
On advertisements publishing on print media on the poll day, the Commission said that "instances of advertisements of offending and misleading nature published in print media have been brought to the notice of the Commission in the past."
The poll body said that such advertisements in the last stage of the election vitiate the entire election process and the affected candidates and parties will not have any opportunity of providing clarification/rebuttal in such cases.
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