Mangaluru: The Karnataka State Election Commission has announced General Election to Zilla Panchayats and Taluk panchayats of the State. In the first phase, 15 districts have gone to the polls on February 13, 2016 and in the second phase remaining 15 districts are going to the polls on February 20.
The counting will take place on February 23 at all taluk headquarters in the State. As per Article 243K of the Constitution of India, the State Election Commission is vested with the powers to issue directions on conduct of elections in free and fair manner.
As the Pre-Poll survey / opinion poll and Exit poll would have the effect of influencing the electorate, the Commission has decided to restrict the Publication and Dissemination of results of Pre-Poll survey/opinion poll and exit poll by print or electronic or any other media in the following manner: No person shall conduct any opinion/exit poll and publish or publicize by any means of the print or electronic media or disseminate in any other manner, whatsoever the result of any opinion poll during the period of 48 hours before the commencement of the poll, from 7:00 AM on February 18 and exit poll till half an hour after the closing of poll (i.e. till 5-30 PM on 20-02-2016).
Explanation: In this order: – (a) ‘Electronic media’ includes Radio and Television —both Government owned and Private and covers Satellite/DTH, Terrestrial and Cable Channels. (b) ‘Dissemination’ includes publication in any newspapers, magazines or periodical or display on electronic media or circulation by means of any pamphlet, poster, placard, handbill, SMS/WhatsApp messages etc., or any other document.