Panaji (GOA) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has prohibited conducting any opinion or exit poll in connection with the upcoming by-elections for Panaji and Valpoi assembly constituencies from August 21 to August 23.
The elections are scheduled to take place on August 23 and counting on August 28. The campaigning for the election will conclude on August 21 at 5.00pm.
In a notification issued, ECI has prohibited conducting of any exit poll and publishing or publicizing its results through print, electronic media or dissemination in any other manner on August 23 during 7 am to 6.30 pm in connection with bye-election.
ECI has also said that exist polls are banned 48 hours before the polling process that is from August 21 at 5.00pm.
The prohibition is imposed under Section 126 (1)(b) of the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951.
The February 4 general assembly election witnessed much uproar after ECI banned exist polls from February 4 to March 9, with some media houses approaching High Court for relief. However, the Court had declined to grant any relief.