Election Commission Banned Broadcast of Opinion Polls during Assembly Election in Gujarat and HP

The Election Commission on 19 October 2012 issued a complete ban on broadcast and publication of the opinion polls during the period of Assembly Elections in the two states Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, from 4 November 2012 to 17 December 2012. 

The election commission has prohibited the publication or publishing of the polls or any election matter by means of electronic medium, print or any other medium from 8 am on 4 November 2012 in Himachal Pradesh and the ban would continue up to 5:30 pm on 17 December 2012 the last day of poll in Gujarat. 

The Election Commission also ordered a ban on display of any matter related to elections on any of the electronic broadcast platforms within fixed 48 hours before the conclusions of the elections following the above mentioned election results. 

The Representation of the People Act, 1951 under Section 126 regulates prohibition on display or broadcast of any matter related to elections by any means like television or something similar to it, within 48 hours and till the time of conclusion of the polls in the provided constituency. 

The Election matter means any material that can influence, calculate or intend to influence the results of election and violation of the ban as mentioned under Section 126 of the Representation of People Act, 1951 is a punishable offence and the person behind this would be liable to a fine penalty or a two years imprisonment or both.