Nagpur: The State Election Commission (SEC), with the aim of conducting the local body elections in free and fair manner, has banned opinion and exit polls in media from the midnight of February 14 till the voting process is over on February 21.
Elections to 10 municipal corporations including Nagpur are slated to be held on February 21. Similarly, the first phase of polls of 25 Zilla Parishads and 283 Panchayat Samitis will be held on February 16. The second phase is scheduled to be held on February 21.
The opinion and exit polls by media could influence voters. Hence the print as well as electronic media has been directed not to publish the opinion and exit polls from the midnight of February 14 till February 21. Even social media has been banned from publishing the polls, said the SEC.
