The Election Commission Of India on Monday, ordered the registration of an FIR against the managing editor and editor-in-chief of Dainik Jagran daily newspaper and a related agency for conducting and publishing an exit poll during elections in 15 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
It is against the rules and regulations of the commission to conduct or publish exit polls before elections in any state. Quoting the violation of rules, the commission has written a letter to the Chief Election Officer saying that according to the Section 126 A of the Constitution, there is the provisions of two year’s imprisonment or fine or both for the violators.
The exit poll was conducted by the Resource Development International Pvt Ltd (RDI) and published by Dainik Jagran during the first phase of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
The commission said, “Section 126 A (1) of the Representation Of The People Act says that no one can conduct or publish any election exit poll during the period as notified by the Election Commission.” The commission declared this act of the newspaper was a clear violation of the section.
Assembly elections for UP’s 73 constituencies were held on February 11 and two days later, on February 13, the newspaper published its exit poll.