Cong seeks ECI intervention over opinion polls

The opposition Congress seeking immediate intervention of Election Commission of India (ECI) to take necessary action against some news channels and anchors for publishing opinion polls for Tripura violating model code of conduct (MCC).

Addressing a press conference here at Congress Bhavan on Tuesday noon, AICC in-charge for Tripura Dr Ajoy Kumar and MP Gaurav Gogoi said that one Pradeep Bhandari of ‘Jan ki Baat’ had published opinion polls in different cable news channels of Tripura on February 13 violating the MCC.

Dr Kumar said that a certain news channel has published opinion polls for the 2023 assembly elections  and these opinion polls favouring one  particular party in direct contravention of the directions of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Tripura prohibiting the publication of the opinion  polls for Tripura election till February 27.

He said that wherever, Pradeep Bhandari published his fake opinion polls, the result was total opposition and in West Bengal, BJP got half of the seats that he projected and the same thing happened in Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh Elections.

“He is a known fraud across the country , working for BJP and RSS and many top Bollywood stars had also filed High Court cases against him for his extortion politics,”, said Dr Kumar and added that the Congress also seek the immediate intervention of ECI  to take action against news channels and their anchors for publishing opinion polls violating the MCC.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has raised questions over the alleged misuse of power of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had allegedly held meetings with top state officials during his poll campaign in Tripura. Congress has also asked the MHA to give a reply over the allegations.

Later, all Congress leaders also filed an FIR at West Agartala police station against Pradeep Bhandari of ‘Jan ki Baat’.