Ball in government's court, says Election Commission on question over poll surveys

NEW DELHI: In the wake of allegations that some firms which conducted pre-election surveys were willing to tweak their findings, CEC V S Sampath today said the Election Commission has in the past given recommendations on opinion polls and it was now for the government to act.

He said the Election Commission will look into the allegations levelled by a TV news channel after a purported sting operation that "exposed" eleven agencies which conducted opinion polls.

"As far as opinion polls are concerned, Commission has taken a view, not today but ten years back in the year 2004 after they held an all-party meeting. They made their recommendations, subsequently also they collected the views of different political parties which have been given. The ball is in the court of the government," Sampath said.

The EC had in its recommendation called for restriction on opinion polls for a specified period during the election process. He was asked as to what course of action the Election Commission would take on the claims made by a TV channel which did a sting operation on some polling agencies.

"We will certainly look into the matter. Whatever legal action that needs to be taken, that will be duly examined," Sampath replied.

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a workshop organised for the All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan correspondents, where Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar and I&B secretary Bimal Julka were also present. Earlier, speaking at the event Sampath said that the Indian general elections were the "mother of all election" which amazed people from other countries.