Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered Twitter to remove all the tweets that are related to 2019 general elections exit polls. The development came there after Election Commission received a complaint against three media houses who were displaying poll surveys predicting the results of the Lok Sabha elections 2019.
According to the representation of People Act, 1951 Section 126 prohibits the display of any election matter by means, inter alia, of television or similar apparatus, during a period of 48 hours before the hour fixed for conclusion of polls in any particular parliamentary constituency.
The section 126 also says that no person shall conduct any exit poll and publish or publicize by means of print or electronic media or disseminate in any other manner, whatsoever, the result of an election during the Lok Sabha elections, as may be notified by the Election Commission in this regard.
The period might commence from the beginning of the hours fixed for the polls on the first day of the poll and continue till half an hour after closing of the poll in all the states and union territories in case of the general elections in any state.
The Election Commission has sought an explanation from the media houses for the displaying of poll surveys predicting the results of the Lok Sabha elections and asked them as to why action should not be taken against them for the violation of the provision of section 126A of Representation of People Act
The commission has asked media houses to reply within 48 hours.
The 17th Lok Sabha elections are spread in 7 phases beginning from April 11 till May 19. The results of the Lok Sabha elections will be announced on May 23.
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