Election Commission bans exit polls for UP assembly election

Lucknow: The Election Commission has banned all exit polls pertaining to the coming Assembly elections from 7.00 am on February 10 to 6.30 pm on March 7.

In a statement issued on Saturday, UP's Chief Electoral Officer Ajay Kumar Shukla said that conducting the exit polls, its publication in print or electronic media or its publicity has been banned from 7.00 am on February 10 to 6.30 pm on March 7.

Any person who violates the order will be punished with a two-year jail term or fine or both

Earlier, the Commission had banned the physical rallies till January 31 this year. The Commission is also keeping a close tab on the money spent on virtual rallies,

Quoting sources IANS has reported that the Commission's Observers are keeping a tab on the campaign contents, which are being circulated during these virtual rallies.

The Commission on January 14, had conducted a detailed meeting with the government officials who have been designated as general, police and expenditure observers, who were asked to keep a close watch on the expenditure during these virtual rallies too.

During the meeting with election observers, the EC underlined the twin concerns on expenditure and content on virtual mode while the Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra reminded 'expenditure observers' to be innovative in countering 'new and latest methods of inducement' to the voters.

The poll panel has issued the guidelines to ensure that money spent on the virtual campaigns is fully accounted for in the expenditure statements filed by candidates and political parties.

The Commission has already amended the format of the expenditure statement by adding a column for virtual rallies.

The candidates are expected to file the details of rallies including the number of virtual rallies, the amount spent and also the campaign contents shared during these rallies.

The ECI has also directed the social media platform companies to ensure compliance with the voluntary code of ethics amid heavy online campaigning due to the ban of rallies.

The Commission has increased the expenditure limits for the forthcoming assembly elections and under the new order issued on January 6, 2022, the maximum limit for the expenditure by a candidate in Manipur and Goa is fixed at Rs 28 lakh while for the other three states -- Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand is fixed at Rs 40 lakh.