The editorial "An undesirable move" (November 5) rightly argued against the ban on pre-election opinion polls. The Congress didn't want a ban on pre-poll surveys when they predicted a victory for the party in state elections but has called for a ban on them now because most of them are predicting a setback for the party in the upcoming Assembly elections and also in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Opinion polls, by and large, give an idea of the public mood, and it is too much to assume that they decisively influence the voter's decision. Indian voters have shown their maturity and prudence in taking their own decisions, independent of the propaganda of political parties and opinion polls. The 2004 Lok Sabha election was an apt example. All opinion polls predicted a victory for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Voters were influenced neither by the NDA's "India Shining" campaign nor by the predictions of the polls. The NDA was defeated and the United Progressive Alliance led by the Congress came into power.
Political parties, opposing or supporting opinion polls, are underestimating the intelligence and capability of the voters. As for exit polls; their findings should not be disclosed before polling is complete in all phases of the elections.
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Political parties, opposing or supporting opinion polls, are underestimating the intelligence and capability of the voters. As for exit polls; their findings should not be disclosed before polling is complete in all phases of the elections.
M C Joshi Lucknow
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number