The Election Commission has banned exit polls during the entire period when elections to five state assemblies would be held.

In a statement in Dehra Dun, Radha Raturi, chief electoral officer, Uttarakhand, said in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission has notified the period between 7 am on January 28 and 5.30 pm on March 3 as the period during which conducting any exit poll or disseminating the result of any exit poll would be prohibited.

While January 28 is the first day of polling in Manipur, March 3 is the last day of polling in Goa and Uttar Pradesh.

Raturi said that under the provisions, displaying any election matter, including results of any opinion poll or any other poll survey, in any electronic media, would be prohibited.