The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Exit polls

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Monday, May 03, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Exit polls

Sir, — Only a few days ago, all the political parties were unanimous in saying that exit polls should be banned.

But the same parties, after the second round of elections, have taken the cue from exit poll results and stepped up their activities exploring post-poll formations. While the Congress and the Left are talking in terms of a third front, the BJP is wooing Muslim voters.

The opportunistic politicians have no qualms about using exit polls to their advantage. Another example of the fact that all is fair in love, war and politics.

Gaurav Kumard,
Vadodara, Gujarat

* * *

Sir, — I wonder what purpose the exit polls serve except giving business to the media and helping the bears in the stock market.

With reference to the recent crash, it is argued that if the election results were to confirm the forecasts, the market would have crashed anyway. If the market were to crash due to the actual results, the investors would have had only themselves to blame as they had taken the risk.

But suppose an alliance won with a comfortable majority, there would be a big boom after days of uncertainty.

S.R. Premkumar,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — There is no way of stopping publication of exit poll results. It does not however mean that pollsters can get away with any substandard work executed without known and established methodology. This can best be ensured by the EC. Once the elections are over, the EC should study the opinion and exit polls, and compare them with the actual positions obtained. Just as political parties are rated and recognised, the EC should publish a recognised list of pollsters.

M.S. Venkataraman,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — Thanks to the exit polls, the BJP may also be discovering the limits of its campaign theme "Vajpayee versus ?" The television images seen by millions across the country hardly convey the impression of an unequal contest.

Tirumalai Raman,
Chennai

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