Bhubaneswar: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha to take immediate action against Nandighosha TV for telecasting exit poll results, a clear violation of election law. According to the ECI, exit polls are prohibited under Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, during the specified period from April 19, 2024, at 7 AM to June 1, 2024, at 6:30 PM, as notified by the ECI on March 28, 2024.
The simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Odisha are being held in four phases, spanning from May 13 to June 1, with vote counting scheduled for June 4. On May 25, voters in 42 assembly constituencies cast their ballots as part of this extensive electoral process.
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Naveen Patnaik, the 77-year-old incumbent Chief Minister, is seeking a historic sixth term in office. Patnaik, who has been in power since 2000, is the second-longest serving Chief Minister in India. The stakes are high for his party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which dominated the 2019 assembly elections by winning 112 out of 146 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 23 seats, while the Congress managed only nine.
The 2024 elections in Odisha are pivotal, as they will determine the 21 representatives for the 18th Lok Sabha. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJD emerged victorious in 12 constituencies, with the BJP winning eight seats and the Congress managing just one.
The ECI’s swift action against Nandighosha TV underscores the importance of adhering to election laws designed to ensure a fair and unbiased electoral process. The prohibition on exit polls aims to prevent undue influence on voters and maintain the integrity of the elections.
As the final phase of voting concludes and the state awaits the counting of votes on June 4, all eyes will be on whether Naveen Patnaik can secure yet another term and how the political landscape in Odisha will shift in this crucial election year.
