The Hindu : Exit polls: all-party meet called

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 24, 2004

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Exit polls: all-party meet called

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI, MARCH 23. Even as the poll process is being set in motion tomorrow with the filing of nominations for the first phase of elections on April 20, the Election Commission has convened an all-party meeting here on April 6 on the controversial issue of banning exit and opinion polls between the first and last phase.

The Deputy Election Commissioner, A.N. Jha, told presspersons that the Commission would seek the views of all recognised national and regional parties since the Supreme Court had restrained it from implementing its September 1999 guidelines to control the publication and telecast of opinion and exit poll surveys. Asked if the Commission would seek any clarification from the apex court on the issue, he said, "If anything has to be done, it will be based on the consensus in the meeting."

Mr. Jha said the Commission had sought comments from the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on a complaint by the Democratic Progressive Alliance regarding the "personal attacks" purported to have been made by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, against the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, in her election campaign.

The DPA had also sought action against the AIADMK for attacking Ms. Sonia in its election manifesto.

He said comments had also been sought from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on a complaint by the AIADMK alleging that the DMK had collected election funds from aspiring candidates in excess of the limit prescribed by the Commission for each constituency.

Asked what action the Commission could take, he said, "There are ample provisions in the [model] code to prevent political parties from indulging in personalised attacks during campaign. We are examining the various complaints. Wait and see."

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