EC bans exit polls till 6.30 pm on Feb 5 voting day

The Election Commission on Monday prohibited the release of exit polls between 7 am and 6.30 pm on the polling day (February 5) of the Delhi Assembly elections. The election results will be announced on February 8. The commission notified that between 7 am and 6.30 pm on Wednesday conducting and publishing or publicising exit poll by means of the print or electronic media or dissemination in any other manner whatsoever shall be prohibited.

The bypolls for Milkipur Assembly seat in Uttar Pradesh and Erode (East) Assembly seat in Tamil Nadu are also scheduled to be held on February 5. Their results will also be announced on February 8. The EC has banned the exit polls of these bypolls too.

"Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951(RP Act,1951) specifies that 'no person shall conduct any exit poll and publish or publicise by means of the print or electronic media or disseminate in any other manner, whatsoever, the result of any exit poll during such period, as may be notified by the Election Commission in this regard," the Election Commission order further stated.