Credibility of poll surveys a concern: Congress

NEW DELHI: With election surveys projecting an upswing for BJP while giving indications of a slide for itself, Congress today stopped short of attaching motives to these even as it questioned their credibility citing wide variations in the predictions.

"Surveys are a fairly exact science. There could be marginal differences in the findings of the various surveys, but not the kind of mismatch being noticed.

"That means the methodology is not being implemented correctly. The credibility of these surveys as such is an issue," party spokesperson Sandip Dikshit told reporters at a AICC briefing here.

Dikshit at the same time made it clear that he was not demanding a ban on surveys.

"I am not in favour of any ban... I am raising a question. Highly independent survey companies, supposedly having integrity and reputation, are getting different results through survey of the same sample sets.

"If surveys are done correctly, such a big margin in the results will not be there. One agency gave a survey to two television channels and they reported different results. How does this happen? How come such divergent views are coming.

"How can large sample surveys of the same population show different results. Is serious work not being done or are real results not being put out. It is a matter of concern. It does influence public opinion. " he said.

To questions about political parties carrying out internal surveys, Dikshit said they were free to do so internally but, "when you put these surveys in the public domain and try to connect their findings... such a thing can not be allowed for a serious matter like the elections".