EC directs media to not predict poll results using astrologers, tarot cards

The Election Commission on 30 March stressed on the need of conducting fair and transparent election and said that dissemination of forecast of poll results during the prohibited periodis the violation of Section 126A of Representation of the People Act.

EC said that the provisions of Section 126A of the Representation of the People's Act has banned dissemination of exit poll results between the polling period (Start of voting in the first phase to the end of polling in the last phase). The commission, reportedly, pointed out that this provision was violated as many media outlets took liberty of airing poll results prediction using methods like astrological analysis, tarots card reading or political analysis, reported The Times of India.

The EC clarified that airing the result prediction during the prohibited period was a violation of Section 126A "which aims to prevent the electors of constituencies still going to polls from being influenced in their voting by such predictions about the prospects of various political parties".

The commission further advised media to "refrain from telecasting/publishing similar programmes in future elections during the prohibited period under Section 126A to ensure free, fair and transparent election. Such attempts to score brownie points against the competitors for merely commercial reasons do not behove well."