Congress seeks action against Zee News for ‘violating’ model code of conduct by ‘concocting exit poll’

The Himachal Pradesh unit of the Congress has urged the Election Commission to take strict action against Zee News for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by “concocting an exit poll much to the liking of BJP”.

Citing section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, the Congress said such polls can’t be broadcast or published “in any way whatsoever just before the polling days” as it might influence the voters. “The instances of the same have been annexed herewith the complaint. This is in gross violation of section 126 of the RP Act.”

Himachal Pradesh goes to polls on November 12. The Congress said the model code of conduct came into effect after the election schedule was announced on October 14.

In a letter to the district election office by the party’s Shimla unit, the Congress said a criminal complaint should be filed against the channel at the earliest and the matter may also be referred to the Press Council of India.

“The said channel under the garb of an opinion poll has been concocting an exit poll much to the liking of the BJP and has also been interviewing the chief minister and other BJP leaders. The same has been done in order to create a hoax throughout the country, working on the instance of the ruling BJP government.”

The Congress alleged that inaction may lead to the media not just curtailing fundamental rights of citizens but also the powers of the poll panel.

“Zee News is being used by the BJP for molding the electoral scenario. The same is evident from the fact that Zee News has not only floated the opinion polls/exit polls in order to create an adverse trend of the voters which is in clear contravention of the rules and the guidelines as laid down by the Election Commission of India.”

It said the poll panel had laid down rules on the same in January 1998 and took note of the Press Council of India guidelines.