The Election Commission of India (ECI) has prohibited the conduct and dissemination of exit polls from 7 a.m. on April 9 until 6:30 p.m. on April 29, covering the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala, Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
The ban is in accordance with Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and violations may result in imprisonment of up to two years, a fine, or both.
Polling dates are as follows: Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry will vote on April 9; Tamil Nadu and the first phase of West Bengal on April 23; and the second phase of West Bengal on April 29.
Additionally, the 48-hour “silence period,” during which all campaigning is prohibited except for limited door-to-door activities by party workers or candidates, will start at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in Kerala and Puducherry, and at 5 p.m. in Assam. Authorities note that enforcing the silence period remains a challenge in the digital era.
Voting generally takes place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with adjustments made in some areas based on terrain and security requirements.
