Press Council advises against publishing poll predictions

The Press Council of India has advised newspapers and magazines to not publish election predictions in any format. With elections in Bihar just a week away, the Press Council has said that publishing predictions is not allowed during the prohibited period.

It said in an advisory issued on Tuesday that “while considering communication received from Election Commission of India”, it advised the print media to “refrain from publishing article which in any way whatsoever predict the results of the elections during the prohibited period” as defined in Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act “to ensure free, fair and transparent election”.