Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Exit poll

While congratulating The Hindu -CNN-IBN for the excellent poll analysis, I differ on one aspect of the findings. Regarding the Tamil Nadu people's choice of Chief Minister, the exit poll says 41 per cent prefer M. Karunanidhi, 35 per cent J. Jayalalithaa, 10 per cent Vijayakant, and one per cent M.K. Stalin. The suggestion that Mr. Vijayakant is more popular than Mr. Stalin is unacceptable. The names of Mr. Karunanidhi and Mr. Stalin should not have featured in the same questionnaire because Mr. Karunanidhi is bound to be the obvious choice of all DMK supporters (the 41 per cent choice includes those who support Mr. Stalin as Chief Minister).

Had Mr. Karunanidhi's name not been included, Mr. Stalin would have certainly overtaken Mr. Vijayakant as people's choice for Chief Minister.
Stanton Morais,
Chennai

Thanks to detailed analysis by poll pundits, the dream of a casteless society appears more distant than ever before. The caste-wise break-up of voting figures makes people more aware of the caste divide and enables politicians to exploit it further. What other purpose will the analysis of how many Vanniyars, Thevars, Nadars and Gounders voted for the DMK or the AIADMK serve?

V. Krishnan,
Chennai

The publication of caste-wise, religion-wise statistics of the exit poll figures was avoidable. Our society is slowly emerging from the shadows of the caste system and it should be allowed to forget the evil.

T.R. Balasubramanian,
Chennai

In a State where the voter turnout is over 70 per cent, a sample size of 11,394 is too small to predict the outcome. Even a minor variation in percentage will change the predictions. Exit polls only end up confusing people and politicians.

S. Jayachandran,
Chennai

Election is a democratic process with secrecy built into the system, which means no voter is expected to say how he intends to vote or has voted. Pre-poll analysis and exit polls defeat the objective. Pre-poll analyses are bound to influence the voting pattern significantly. They lead to scuffles among party workers. Exit polls are only statistical estimates, which can go wrong. If and when they do, the party projected with much fanfare as the winner will certainly come out with allegations of erroneous counting, malpractice, etc., leading to avoidable chaos. The Election Commission should seriously consider banning these polls.

A.N. Parakalan,
Chennai

Voting in the EVM mode has won the appreciation of all. Even rural voters have found them user-friendly. Voting and counting are devoid of misinterpretation and they are hassle free. One wishes the indelible ink mark is also substituted, particularly after these elections when officials seemed to have instructions to pour the ink generously — from the tip of the forefinger to the knuckle in some cases. The Commission should do away with the smudgy practice. It can perhaps think of a simple device to register the thumb impression of voters.

P. Andrew Valsan,
Nagercoil, T.N.

The heat generated in the last 30-plus days is subsiding. The elections have passed off peacefully, by and large. And yet the fundamental question remains: was it a democratic election or was it all about blatant allurement?

Going by the freebie war, it is no exaggeration to say that a day will come when only some sections will decide the fate of the State, on the basis of their expanding needs and the enduring ability of the political parties to hoodwink them.
R. Kalyanaraman,
Chennai

Elections have changed from being free and fair to freebies and fairy tales. The politicians are lost in the labyrinth of promises they made, which they know are just words. The media must keep a track of the promises of the winners and publish progress reports from time to time.

A. Jithesh,
Chennai

The people of Tamil Nadu seem to have no option but to vote for the DMK and the AIADMK alternatively. The ruling party incurs the wrath of the electorate in some way or the other and the party that is out of power gains the people's sympathy citing many reasons. This has been the voting pattern for long and will remain so until a third alternative headed by a charismatic leader enters the fray.

S.T.C. Sudhakar,
Tuticorin, T.N.

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