Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], June 18 (HBTV): Punjab Police has registered an FIR against certain news channels for allegedly violating the Election Commission of India's (ECI) guidelines by publishing an opinion poll ahead of the June 19 Assembly by-election in Ludhiana (West).
According to Punjab's Public Relations Department, the FIR was lodged following a complaint filed by the Returning Officer of the 64-Ludhiana (West) Assembly Constituency. The police stated that the publication of the opinion poll during the 48-hour 'silence period' before polling violates Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
‘The publication of the poll was carried out in violation of the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India, which prohibits the publication or broadcasting of opinion polls in electronic media during the restricted period (48 hours prior to the close of the poll),’ the statement mentioned.
According to police, such publication is viewed as an attempt to influence voter perception and manipulate the electoral environment.
‘The complaint was formally lodged by the Returning Officer of 64-Ludhiana (West) Assembly Constituency. The publication of such a poll is viewed as an attempt to influence voter perception and election response, thereby undermining the integrity of the electoral process,’ the statement added.
Police further said that strict action would be taken, as per law, against any individual or entity found guilty of violating the Election Commission's guidelines.
‘Strict action will be taken as per law against any individual or entity found guilty of violating the Election Commission's directives,’ the statement read.
Meanwhile, as campaigning concluded, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited Ludhiana to garner support for her party’s candidate and urged voters to elect leadership committed to ‘service, good governance, and prosperity.’
In a post on social media platform X, Gupta wrote, ‘Now Punjab needs – service, good governance and prosperity.’ She added that the people of Punjab were hoping for a safer and better future. ‘The people of Punjab expect a safe, healthy and respectable life. They want better education, strong infrastructure, and complete freedom from the drug mafia.’
The by-elections to five assembly constituencies across the country are set to take place tomorrow. The Ludhiana (West) by-election was necessitated by the death of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi.
There are 14 candidates contesting in Ludhiana (West), including Sanjeev Arora (AAP), Bharat Bhushan Ashu (Congress), Parupkar Singh Ghuman (Shiromani Akali Dal), and Jiwan Gupta (BJP).
Apart from Ludhiana (West), bypolls will also be held in Gujarat’s Kadi (SC) and Visavadar, Kerala’s Nilambur, and West Bengal’s Kaliganj.
(ANI)