In a massive blow to the leading Hindi daily, Dainik Jagran, the Election Commission of India has directed the District Election officers to file a FIR against the Hindi daily and the agency for conducting exit polls in the districts of Uttar Pradesh covered under the first phase of Assembly polls held on February 11.
According to the directions given by the EC, a FIR would be launched against the managing editor of DRI, other authorities of RDI and Managing Editor, Editor-in-Chief, Editor and Chief Editor of the Dainik Jagran under 188 IPC read with Sec 126 A and B of RP ACT 51. Also, the Chief Election Officer should submit compliance by 6 p.m. on February 13.
“The act by Dainik Jagran is a clear violation of Section 126 A &B of the Representation of the People Act and wilful disobedience of lawful directions of the Commission under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code,” said an EC spokesperson.
The Hindi daily published the feedback obtained from the people on the first phase of the UP assembly elections over 73 constituencies which said that the BJP was projected to bag the most seats. While the Bahujan Samaj Party stood second while the newly formed alliance of Congress and Samajwadi Party stood at third in the “public feedback” survey.
However, it is expected that BSP and SP-Congress might file complaints with the Election Commission seeking action against the newspaper report and the agency that conducted the survey.
