New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) today announced that there would be a ban on the exit polls from 7 am to 6:30 pm on October 21 during the Legislative Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra and by-elections to 51 assembly constituencies of 17 states, agency reports stated.
“General Elections to the LAs of Haryana and Maharashtra and by-elections to 51 Assembly Constituencies of 17 States and 23-Samastipur (SC) PC in Bihar and 45-Satara PC in Maharashtra to be held simultaneously – Ban on EXIT POLL from 7 am to 6:30 pm on 21st October,” EC official spokesperson Sheyphali Sharan tweeted.
“Also Displaying any election matter including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media, would be prohibited during the period of 48hrs ending with the hours fixed for conclusion of poll in the respective polling areas,” Sharan said.
Polls will be held on October 21 for the 90-member Haryana Assembly along with the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.
Besides, by-elections will be held in 17 states including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh on the same day for their 51 assembly constituencies.
The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on October 24, the EC announced earlier.