Rajya Sabha members on Friday asked all political parties to unitedly approach the Supreme Court and ask for a complete ban on exit and opinion polls. According to RS members, these polls distort the election process.
"Banning these polls is vital for cleaner polity in the country," said former chief election commissioner and Rajya Sabha member M S Gill. His sentiment was echoed by a large number of members in the upper House.
"The decision about this has been lingering in the apex court for too long," said the former CEC. He asked all political parties to unite and "push the matter".
"If the political parties in unison approach the court, the apex judiciary will have no choice but to take it seriously," Gill told the Rajya Sabha.
A bill moved by V Narayanasamy of the Congress seeks to prohibit pre-poll surveys and exit polls by the print and electronic media. The bill received support from members across all parties. The legislation also seeks to introduce compulsory voting in the country.
Gill and Samajwadi Party member Amar Singh also decried the new trend of extended polling as in the case of the Uttar Pradesh state assembly. They also demanded that a neutral authority appoint high constitutional functionaries like the President, chief election commissioner, election commissioners and governors.
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