EC to seek legal advice on exit polls

A day before the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission has decided to seek legal opinion on the issue of banning e...

A day before the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission has decided to seek legal opinion on the issue of banning exit and opinion polls.

‘‘The Commission is consulting an advocate and will take appropriate action after obtaining legal opinion,’’ sources in the EC said.

With the Government shutting out the option of bringing in an ordinance to regulate opinion and exit polls, the EC was left with no other option but to seek legal advice on the matter.

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The EC’s decision came even as the Congress urged the Commission today to ‘‘discharge its constitutional obligation’’ of taking a stand on the matter of exit polls.

Sources in the EC said the Commission is considering the option of going back to the Supreme Court for a review of its order banning opinion and exit polls five years ago. At least five news channels are set to show exit polls based on the voting in 13 states and three UTs that go to polls tomorrow.

Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal said today, ‘‘If the Election Commission does not take a decision on this matter, then the exit polls for the first phase of voting would come tomorrow and whatever they say would have an impact on the voters who are to cast their votes in the next phases.’’

‘‘All political parties had suggested to the EC that exit polls could be conducted but the results of the exit polls should be made public only on May 10. The EC had told us it would take a decision on the matter by April 18 or April 19. But we do not yet have a decision,’’ Sibal added.

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‘‘If the EC agrees with the Attorney-General’s opinion (on exit polls), they can say so. If the EC is not agreeing with it, then they should say that the results of tomorrow’s exit polls should come only on May 10,’’ the Congress leader pointed out.