BJP seeks ban on pre-poll surveys

Stung by the adverse publicity arising out of the findings of a recent pre-poll survey that projected a simple majority for the Congress party in the ensuing Assembly polls, BJP leader and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has urged the Election Commission to ban such opinion polls carried out by the media.

Yeddyurappa, who has been projected as the BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate, said he would soon write a letter to the Election Commission seeking a ban on pre-poll surveys carried out by the media.

Speaking to reporters in Udupi in coastal Karnataka on Sunday, Yeddyurappa lashed out at the recent pre-poll survey that projected a rout for the BJP in the ensuing Assembly elections in Karnataka. “Such surveys are totally biased and baseless. They lack credibility and were unscientific”, he said.

Claiming that the forecasts of pre-poll surveys had been proved wrong on earlier occasions, Yeddyurappa said the predictions of such opinion polls “mislead” the people and create confusion in the minds of the people. “I don’t believe such forecasts even if they are in favour of BJP”, he said.

He pointed out that he had been touring the state extensively over the last two months and had claimed that the response of the people was “overwhelming and much above the BJP’s expectations”.

“Our party will definitely bag a majority of the seats in the state and form the Government. The people need not have to bother or give credence to such pre-poll predictions”, he said.

Yeddyurappa’s demand for ban on pre-poll surveys comes in the wake of CNN-IBN-Deccan Herald opinion poll predicting 114 seats for the Congress, 60 seats for the BJP and 37 seats for the JD (S) in the 224-member Karnataka assembly.

Yeddyurappa was also irked by the Election Commission’s decision to delete references to the Congress and Central Government in the television advertisement brought out by the BJP on the issue of price rise. He said the Election Commission was infringing upon the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression.