Apropos of the news about pre-poll survey versus exit poll, political parties take stand according to their convenience. The Congress didn?t want ban on opinion polls when they predicted victory for the party in state elections but has called for ban on them because most of the opinion polls are predicting a setback for the party in the coming assembly elections and also in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Pre-election opinion polls, by and large, give a vague idea of the public-mood. It is too much to assume that they decisively influence the voter mind. Indian voters have amply shown their maturity and prudence in taking their own decision independent of the propaganda of political parties and opinion polls. The 2004 Lok Sabha elections were the best example. All opinion polls predicted victory for the NDA. Voters were influenced neither by the NDA?s ?Shinning India? poll campaign nor by the predictions of the opinion polls. The NDA was defeated and the UPA?the post-poll alliance led by the largest party, the Congress?came into power. Political parties opposing or supporting opinion polls are underestimating intelligence and capability of the voters in taking independent decisions. In case of exit polls conducted during polling in various phases of the election, their findings should be disclosed only after completion of polling in all phases of the entire election.
MC Joshi, Lucknow
